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Hyperpolyglot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A hyperpolyglot is one who can speak six or more languages fluently. The term was coined by the linguist Richard Hudson in 2003 and derives from the word "polyglot", meaning one who can speak multiple languages.
There are several theories as to why some people can easily learn many different languages, while others only ever learn one. For example, the neuroscientist Katrin Amunts studied the brain of hyperpolyglot Emil Krebs and determined that the area of Krebs' brain responsible for language—Broca's area—was organized differently than in monolingual men. On the other hand, the neurolinguist Lorain Obler has correlated hyperpolyglotism with the Geschwind-Galaburda cluster, a high coincidence of left-handedness, homosexuality, auto-immune disorders, learning disorders and talents in art, mathematics and, possibly, languages, but this is unfounded.
Some notable hyperpolyglots include Pope John Paul II 1920 – 2005, Sir Richard F. Burton (1821–1890), the cardinal Giuseppe Mezzofanti (1774–1849), Sir John Bowring (1792–1872), William Jones (September 28, 1746 – April 27, 1794) and the linguistics professor Kenneth Hale (1934–2001).
- "The Gift of the Gab", New Scientist, 2481, 40-43.
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