Over half of the man ’s universe speaks more than one language . However , as little as 1 percent of the satellite ’s peoplecan be considereda polyglot , defined as someone who can speak five or more languages . Moreover , there are some person recognize as hyperpolyglots , lingual maestros that master an copiousness of language ( although there ’s no strict definition of how many languages are required before you are welcomed into this elite group ) .
History is full of thisfascinating metal money . There ’s Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti ( 1774 - 1849 ) , an Italian Cardinal who supposedly spoke more than 38 languages fluently , as well as Sir John Bowring , Governor of Hong Kong from 1854 to 1859 , who claim to sleep together 200 languages and could speak 100 .
These claims , however , have never been robustly verified ( more on that afterwards ) and history has a tendency to sick marvellous story not wholly base on truth .
Theoretically , there is no definitive limitation to the number of oral communication a human brainiac can comprehend . It ’s also an impossibly tricky thing to measure ; is it harder to dig the basics of hundreds of spoken communication or deeply understand a smattering ?
In 2018,the New Yorkertook a deep dive into the world of hyperpolyglots and report that many “ winced at the question ” when ask how many languages they speak . Simply put , it ’s not easy – or even utile – to count the number of conquered languages .
“ No one masters all the refinement of a language . It ’s a false banner , and one that gets raise , ironically , mostly by monoglots – Americans in picky , ” Richard Simcott , a British hyperpolyglot who organizes the one-year Polyglot Conference , said in an interview with the magazine .
There is also the job of support the title of hyperpolyglots . If someone claimed they spoke10 of the earthly concern ’s rarest languages , would they have to pucker native speakers from every corner of the ball to rise it ?
showcase in stop , there is the infamous story of Ziad Fazah , a semifinal - famous person of Lebanese heritage who spent large parts of his life in Africa and South America . Up until 1998 , he held the Guinness World Record for the most languages mouth after claiming he had learned 59 world language , from Arabic and Spanish to Swahili and Tajik .
However , many feel that parts of his level were suspicious , to say the least . In 1997 , he appear on a Chilean TV show calledViva El Lunesin which he was grill by audience member from around the world , including Egypt , Finland , Iran , Russia , China , Greece , and India .
It became apparent that Fazah had overstated his competence in many of these languages and failed to do some of the basic question .
He later articulate the television receiver show was an essential set - up by sensation - search producers who did n’t narrate him he ’d be essay live on the show . He toldLa Cuartanewspaper in 2020 : “ I had n’t drill for a long time . The truth is , it was a vast embarrassment . ”
Whether you may speak two or 200 languages , it ’s evident that the head always holds a special piazza for our native spit . Astudypublished earlier this year by scientist at MIT analyzed the nous of linguist as they mused over their many language .
The same head part “ lit up ” when they take heed to any of the terminology they verbalize and the activity was solid in those in which the speaker is more skillful – except for their aboriginal lyric . Whenever they listen to their primary spoken communication , activity in the genius net was significantly low .
“ Something makes it a little bit light to process – maybe it ’s that you ’ve spent more time using that spoken language – and you get a dip in activity for the native language compared to other languages that you speak proficiently , ” Evelina Fedorenko , an associate prof of neuroscience at MIT and the aged author of the field of study , say in astatement .
Becoming a lawful hyperpolyglot is said to be a Herculean feat that requires years of dedication , but you do n’t need to accomplish any superlative challenges to gain some unclouded welfare from check multiple nomenclature .
Astudy from 2020suggested that multilingualism may delay the attack of Alzheimer ’s disease . The scholarship of another language does not prevent or reverse dementia , as such , but it does help to tone up and reorganise the brain ’s racing circuit . This is particularly useful when the brain is put under straining in honest-to-god age as it helps distribute activity throughout more brain circuits .
Granted , memorize 10 languages wo n’t increase this gist by 10 - fold , but dabble in a bunch of different dialects is unconvincing to harm you .
