“We’re all potential polygots.” I was flipping through my recent Psychology Today and these words jumped off of the page. Naturally I had to read up on it - to be perfectly honest, I had no earthly idea what a polygot was, let alone if I wanted to be one or not.
Come to find out, a polygot is someone who speaks multiple languages. Hyperpolygots are polygots who speak 10, 20, or 30 languages - and the article is convinced that we all have the potential for that as well. I was reading the article at 6:20 am, through one eye (the other was protesting the time I chose for reading) with a cup of coffee at my lips. So I was in no posititon to agree with the article; I kind of gave it a “Yeah, right.”
But, with both eyes open now, I’m willing to consider the possibility.
The magazine cited a Brazilian linguist who speaks 60 languages, including Chinese, Portuguese and Sanskrit. The hyperpolyglot’s name is Carlos Do Amaral Freire and he’s been studying nonstop for over 40 years.
Shockingly enough, experts say that we all have the potential to speak this many languages, and having a high IQ actually isn’t a prerequisite. Those who have learned to speak multiple languages say that each new one gets easier. That seems fascinating to me, because I’m pretty certain I’d just get confused. It wouldn’t be long before my sentences started in Spain, ended in France, and stopped by an Italian cafe along the way. Even Freire would have no idea what I was trying to say!
But learning a new language is one of the best things we can do for our mental fitness. It’s an amazing workout for our brain cells and gives our self confidence a cosmopolitan boost. That’s all good stuff, no matter how you say it.
Joi
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