What is a polyglot ?

What is a polyglot ? Do you have to speak 2 languages or 10 ? Do you have to be fluent ? Or does it suffice to just really LOVE languages ? This time I traveled to the Polyglot Conference in Ljubljana Slovenia to find out...
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[@boabysands123]

A simple distinction is that "monolingual", "bilingual" or "multilingual" etc. are mostly used as adjectives, as in "he is bilingual." or "Most Africans are multilingual". Whereas "Polyglot" (and its over-achieving cousin "hyperglot") are nouns which have gradually become an identity a person can aspire to, become or identify as. This later development is a quite recent 21st century by-product of the internet and in large part KZbin.

[@urszulamadycka6946]

I'm 17, languages are my passion so I guess I can call myself a polyglot! :)) For now I can speak fluently 3 languages, I started learning 4th, and there are many more that I wish to learn in the future. Wish me luck haha

[@highonlanguages2515]

All the best! I am a polyglot too.

[@andrew6516]

I know this is an old comment, but I'm 17 now and languages are my passion too. I didn't realize that there was a whole community of people who were passionate about languages. What languages do you know? I speak english and latin fluently and I've studied a good bit of spanish, and I'm studying Japanese right now. I also have dabbled in italian, german, and swedish.

[@hoesmad8035]

Andrew I’m studying Japanese too! I already know English and Spanish

[@pietrof.6436]

How's it doing Ula? I was just like you when I was 17, now with almost 20 years, I speak/study Portuguese, English, Spanish, French and Esperanto.

[@user-dm5qi4nb6l]

should I count my mother language? hahaha cuz some of them said a person who speaks 4 or more languages, so I thought okay then... I kinda know English, and I'm learning French and Japanese and with my mother language Spanish that would be four... yeeiii I'm a polyglot !!! :,)

[@carolineherry6057]

J'adore le montage & les gens que tu as interviewés ont l'air trop sympas.

[@LanguageBoost01]

Again great work Ed! Congrats!

[@belsytalks]

That was awesome! It was super positive and encouraging. Even though you were talking about definitions, and a definition often comes with limits and barriers, that wasn't the tone. It made me appreciate more that I love languages so much, and other people do too, even though I don't know if I'm a polyglot or not.

[@hcm9999]

A polyglot is usually (but no necessarily) a person that is able to say "hello" (or something like that) in at least one existing language, or at least a language that could exist in some time in the not so distant future.

[@kaypeeada8066]

I am a filipino who is studying spanish right now and i just saw your video about philippines and i thought you are spanish, but when i saw this video you’re British and that made me insta Fan.... i grew up speaking 3 languages (waray, tagalog, english) and now i speak japanese and now i am studying spanish!! (New subscriber)

[@estefaniaicardi]

hey, its been at least one year, how's it going? :)

[@McTaggle]

Hadn’t thought about it that much before but actually it’s nice that they define it as a passion for languages :).

[@gabrielafuentesaguilar2303]

This video is soo beautiful, lindo, bello! hahaha

[@laurenwilliams3069]

Love this video! There's a similar explanation on Polyglot Station. It's not really about your abilities in each language, but moreso your passion and how much you include them in your life.

[@Elena-ty5xg]

Great video!

[@LaFerpection]

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[@gogakushayemi]

The end made me laugh. I don't use the term polyglot at all, because there seem to be so many people just wanting to yell at you when you do. You're not a polyglot cause you only speak this many languages! Your not a polyglot because you aren't native level in all your languages. Yeah, I don't need that negativity.

[@polyglotdreams]

Very entertaining ... great editing!

[@LaFerpection]

Thanks very much Tim :)

[@danielstewart6497]

I love all of your videos!! They’re so inspiring!

[@LaFerpection]

Thanks :) what language are you learning ?

[@danielstewart6497]

@@LaFerpection That's a kinda complicated question haha. I'm living in la comunitat valenciana of Spain right now and am more actively trying to improve my valenciano/catalan but I'm also studying Turkish and French... among others. I'm a little unorganized and need to stick to one.

[@LaFerpection]

@@danielstewart6497 haha wow that is quite a variety as well ! I have always struggled with learning different languages at the same time so try to stick to 1 at a time if possible, unless you are working on it full time ?

[@danielstewart6497]

@@LaFerpection Yeah that's definitely the plan! I have to be honest though.. seeing people like you juggling five languages definitely makes it harder haha. Also, thanks for responding! Definitely made my day!!

[@LaFerpection]

@@danielstewart6497 My pleasure :) and bare in mind that me and nearly all polyglots have been studying, working, living and using languages every day for years, it just takes time...So don't judge yourself against other people, studying what you are interested in and go at your own pace :)

[@FrancescoSamarelli]

Another great video! Glad I subscribed! - a polyglot really is defined by each persons’ view. This video really was on the spot with the polyglot meaning in the polyglot community and in general. Speak 1.25 languages? You’re a polyglot and join the community!!! :)

[@joshistyping]

I reckon a "multilingual" person knows several languages because they grew up with them, while a "polyglot" went out of their way to learn several languages and continue maintaining them.

[@amjan]

Yup, I think the same. Many people in the world know several languages only because those are spoken in their communities and they have never actually studied one on their own.

[@Vaelios3292]

Great vid! Now I need to know what "being fluent" means!

[@highonlanguages2515]

It is not a standard definition but you should speak atleast 4 languages to be called polyglot.

[@LaFerpection]

Is that your opinion ? Or something you have seen somewhere ?

[@daysandwords]

@@LaFerpection Haha, yeah... Don't you love it when you make a 3 and a half minute video, asking a bunch of experts about what it means and come to no conclusion because there is no real answer, and then someone comments saying "It's _insert simple answer here_" as if they somehow know better.

[@peepla7]

According to this...I'm a polyglot and didn't even know it. I speak English, American sign language, Spanish, French and currently studying Xhosa. I also read and understand Portuguese, Zulu, and Africkaans when it's spoken to me but can't respond fluently yet.

[@saw-alone-man6150]

Me know muptile language but never going be native In those languages. Even in English for me didn't learn until age 5 due to fact I had autism and had a twin language that developed. Also what interesting thought we were deaf. So try teach us ASL. Guess that didn't work either. Whoever taught me English. Thank you! You make be able function normal society, even when doctors said never ever be able to speak or write or read. Plus know Spanish now and been postponing alot for Japanese. Yet learn a little from language too. I am more intrigued to learn as a adult now of languages

[@bhetypi]

I speak 6 languages fluent in 4, intermediate at the 5th and 6th language. The only language i am passionate about is the new language i am learning now, my 6th language because i want to watch movies without subtitles. I often think on my 3rd language, i talk everyday with the 4th language, the 5th and 6th is for dramas and movies. My mother tongue is only used with my family and my hometown friends. The second one and 3rd is for social media connection. Am I polyglot or multilingual? I consider myself multilingual unless somebody calls me a polyglot.

[@lucasdanjos6701]

And I can only speak two fluently: portuguese (the Brazilian way) and English. Also I can understand Spanish, however I am not fluent.

[@TsoliTv]

French English Spanish Portuguese

[@sirlofty]

as a trilingual, people who speak more than three are polylingual.

[@miriampereztabaresdenava3150]

Esta chachi el video, pero donde esta la filipina ?

[@klonoaphantom1064]

1:50 "polyglot"

[@fayetran6447]

So...If I hate languages and I hate communicating, but I speak 3+ languages, then I shall be called a multilingual right?

[@anchyi1202]

So I'm a polyglot just by thinking in English? Nevertheless I still want to learn more languages, hope I earn this "title"

[@ChefRafi]

Maybe 5 or 6 languages so entire regions don’t become Polyglots by geography??

[@LaFerpection]

It is a very open definition and as you say, if you make it 2,3 or even 4 a lot of people in the world would be polyglots from birth !

[@daysandwords]

I know a woman who speaks 6 because of where she grew up (a part of India where there are 4 languages in the immediate area, then Hindi is the national language and then obviously English).

[@KelvinF]

i dont want to be rude, but everything those people said was bullshit. Too much said for nothing. I consider the following. 2 - Bilingual 3 - Trilingual 4 or more - polyglot. Simple.

[@owlthereader7721]

What about a person who speak 4 languages and 2 dilects, 😁😁

[@JESUSISLORDforever888]

1/2/19: Happy New Year everyone. It is my understanding that a POLYGLOT is a person who just knows how to speak several languages “naturally” ; They just seem to understand/speak a language without having to study it.

[@daysandwords]

Well then no one is a polyglot. I mean, I am pretty good at languages myself, I pick them up pretty quickly etc., and each of the skills that language acqusition requires is a skill that I'd say I possess. But no one just "gets" a language without having to study it. Even your native language, you study it without knowing you are doing it.

[@hotmessmissy]

well then by that definition i am a polyglot lol

[@NightOwl_30]

Why are people defining polyglot as "linguaphile"? Polyglot is just another word for multilingual. Also, if you took the time to learn 4 languages or more it's already implied you have a passion for languages. This "new" definition of polyglot is just people trying to find a geeky sense of community to feel special but they're just like everyone else who speaks more than 3 languages.