Fri, 07 Sep 2018 12:16:39 +0000We are aware that a polyglot is someone who knows and can use various languages. If we are motivated enough, we can easily master two, three, or four languages.But can this fall under the rubric of hyperpolyglot?

Hyperpolyglots work sometimes as interpreters or translators

Definition

This…

We are aware that a polyglot is someone who knows and can use various languages. If we are motivated enough, we can easily master two, three, or four languages.But can this fall under the rubric of hyperpolyglot?

Hyperpolyglots work sometimes as interpreters or translators

Definition

This word was used for the first time two decades ago by a British linguist, Richard Hudson, in his quest to find the world’s greatest learner.

It is accepted nowadays that a hyperpolyglot is someone who masters or is fluent in at least 11 languages. “The hyperpolyglot is someone who is both, a gifted and massive language accumulator. Someone who possesses a particular neurology that’s well-suited for learning languages very quickly and being able to use them” affirms the linguist Michael Erard, author of the book Babel No More.

History

Hyperpolyglots were described in history from the disciples on the day of Pentecost’s preaching to “every nation” in their own languages, to Queen Elizabeth I who allegedly could speak 11 tongues; although the most famous hyperpolyglot was Giuseppe Mezzofanti(1774-1849), an Italian Cardinal, fluent in at least thirty languages.

Queen Elizabeth I could speak 11 Languages

Researches

The hyperpolyglots are also called language super learners and they are a rare phenomenon, but neurolinguists have come up with a partial profile: They are most likely male, left-handed, with an above average IQ, introverted, pragmatic, independent, with a sense of disorientation, gay with some kind of autoimmune disorder (still to be confirmed).

There Might be A Genetic Predisposition that favours hyperpolyglots

It appears that there is a genetic predisposition that favours their linguistic ability, but more studies are needed. Due to their introversion, most hyperpolyglots hold their language knowledge as a trophy instead of using them to communicate. Some less introverted might work as interpreters or translators in international organisations or join groups of hyperpolyglots where they don’t feel out of place.

The hyperpolyglots’brain works differently

The hyperpolyglots brain’s neural activity is different compared to monolingual people. As the brain adapts, new pathways are created that strengthens the brain of multilinguals, these in turn ease further language learning.

Neuroscientists at Massachusetts General Hospital have tried to find out “how language fits into the broader architecture of the mind” [Evelina Federenko]

They wished to investigate if language shared a mechanism with other cognitive functions. Their goal was to identify “the language responsive cortex”, and the task was reading or listening to a sequence of sentences and some composed of nonsense words.The same group led by Evelina Federenko studied the way language skills vary among individuals. They saw that some brains worked harder than others. So, they asked themselves whether elevated brain activity correspond to a greater aptitude for language. They tested monolinguals or trilinguals against hyperpolyglots. Evelina saw that the subjects showed less brain activity when working in their mother tongue; hyperpolyglots’ brain activity was higher in an unfamiliar tongue, but much less than the average people. It appears that their brain works in a more efficient way. No matter how difficult the task, hyperpolyglots used a smaller area of their brain in processing language, so they use less energy.

How Do Hyperpolyglots Learn?

1-They immerse themselves in the language they are learning.

They travel to the country if they can, or they try to find communities where the target language is spoken in their own city, and learn the new language first hand.

2-They don’t waste time with methods that don’t work for them.

3-They Know how to learn.

When starting to learn they go straight to the point. They study the essentials:

• Predicate formation
• How to quantify
• Negations
• Pronouns
• Numbers
• Qualification
• Clausal operators (but, because, therefore)
• Verbs like “to be” “to seem”
• Basic survival verbs “need” “eat” “see” “drink” “want” “walk” “buy” “get sick”
• Nouns

4-They adjust their methods: They discard irrelevant information.

5-They have a curious mind.

6-They are motivated.

7-They make the learning process fun.

• Listening to music
• Watch films
• Read books
• Visit websites (news etc) in that language
• Travel to countries where the language is spoken when possible
• Make friendship with people who speak the language

Conclusion

We might not all be able to become hyperpolyglots, but there are a lot we can learn from them like their passion for languages, and their motivation to accomplish their goals.

What do you think?

Let me know in the comments below.

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