Polyglot. If you are hearing the word for the first time, you would be forgiven for thinking of it as a complicated science out of an ordinary man's reach. But, hey, you are in for a pleasant surprise.
A polyglot is a person who can speak, read, or even write several languages. The term multilingual is often used in place of polyglot. Easy enough, huh? What's even better is that it is quite simple to become a polyglot in the modern-day.
Yes, you could become a polyglot too! How so, you ask? The world has become a smaller place, with people from all areas interacting easily. The advent of the internet means you can learn other languages without even having to leave your house!
Do you think that is hard? Just take a look at some famous polyglots, then reconsider your stand.
Famous Polyglots Around the World
Ordinarily, even a person who speaks two languages is multilingual, hence a polyglot. But that is too ordinary, right? Therefore, a minimum of four languages is frequently used to define one as a polyglot.
And the best in the world have surpassed that number by far.
- In Africa, Catholic cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson can comfortably speak German, Greek, Hebrew, Fante, English, Italian, French, and, of course, Latin.
- If Cardinal Turkson's eight languages sound like a mouthful, how about the American poet Alexander Argüelles, who speaks a full dozen languages fluently?
- Catholics appear to be doing quite well here, given you cannot sideline Pope Francis who speaks Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, and, of course, Latin.
- Former Arsenal Football Club manager Arsene Wenger has a command of German, Japanese, French, English, Spanish, and Italian.
It is a long list, but the few above should show you that it's not impossible to become a polyglot. There are even teenagers who have made remarkable strides on this front, so why not you?
You may also ask, why bother to become a polyglot?
Reasons Why You Should Learn Many Languages
1) Its fun
If not for anything else, then knowing several languages is always fun. Imagine being in a room with three or more people and being the only person who can comprehend what each one of them is saying. That will bring you a sense of satisfaction.
It will make you important all of a sudden, since they all need you to communicate. If that doesn't sound like something worth the effort, consider the following reason.
2) Career opportunities
Polyglots will always be in demand careerwise. Remember the three people you were with who spoke different languages? Guess what? For them to communicate with each other, they'd need you to connect them.
In business, that is called demand. As a polyglot, you have the supply to satisfy that demand. You can charge to do that, and these situations will often arise. Especially now that cross border trade is growing even further.
3) Numerous resources
There are numerous resources online that you can use to learn various languages. Some are free, and even most premium ones are very affordable. Why not take advantage of them?
How to Learn Languages Online
1) Find a reputable online resource
There are many places where you can learn different languages, but you need to find the most suitable one for you. This will be determined by the specific language you are interested in at the time and also how they teach.
Some resources use websites to teach, some use apps, others both. An app is the best as it offers a more personalized learning experience. You can save it on your phone's home screen and set reminders, so you don't get lazy.
2) Practice
Once you get a grasp of a new language, make it a habit to practice regularly. Take tests even after you have completed learning, and have sessions where you speak it.
3) Reach out to someone who speaks the language
Your practice becomes even better if you can talk to someone who is already fluent in the said language. They will help you to improve further since the conversation is normal, and they can correct your mistakes.
4) Consume content in said language
Still on practice, make your newly-learned language your mode of communication as much as possible. Try translating your web pages to that language, or even doing social media posts in the same, and see how it turns out.
See? There are many reasons why you should become a polyglot. And an equally generous number of ways to go about it. What are you waiting for?
Get started today!
