Comments on: Polyglots of the Past http://thelinguistblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/polyglots-of-the-past/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:32:38 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Ryan http://thelinguistblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/polyglots-of-the-past/#comment-225 Ryan Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:01:47 +0000 http://thelinguistblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/polyglots-of-the-past/#comment-225 Juan: Thanks a lot for the recommendation. I'll definitely read up on Mr. Gomez. Juan: Thanks a lot for the recommendation. I’ll definitely read up on Mr. Gomez.

]]> By: Juan http://thelinguistblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/polyglots-of-the-past/#comment-223 Juan Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:33:21 +0000 http://thelinguistblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/polyglots-of-the-past/#comment-223 You should include in your list the late Colombian intellectual and philosopher Nicolás Gómez Dávila. He spoke 16 languages, and his personal library numbered over 30,000 volumes, ranging from classical Greek and Latin to Sanskrit. You should include in your list the late Colombian intellectual and philosopher Nicolás Gómez Dávila. He spoke 16 languages, and his personal library numbered over 30,000 volumes, ranging from classical Greek and Latin to Sanskrit.

]]> By: Ryan http://thelinguistblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/polyglots-of-the-past/#comment-178 Ryan Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:53:49 +0000 http://thelinguistblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/polyglots-of-the-past/#comment-178 Mitch, I've been thinking about updating both of my lists of polyglots. Thanks a lot for the lists, I will definitely take a look. Mitch,

I’ve been thinking about updating both of my lists of polyglots. Thanks a lot for the lists, I will definitely take a look.

]]> By: Mitch http://thelinguistblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/polyglots-of-the-past/#comment-176 Mitch Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:27:54 +0000 http://thelinguistblogger.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/polyglots-of-the-past/#comment-176 Ryan, You should consider adding Heinrich Schliemann, the person who unearthed Troy. He was supposed to be conversant in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Italian, Greek, Latin, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, and his native German. Here's one link that talks about his methods, which shows the extent to which he used memorization: http://wiki.anomalytv.com/tavi/index.php?page=LanguageMethods Also, from the recent past, you might consider Kato Lomb, a well-known Hungarian self-taught polyglot (and simultaneous translator), who was still learning languages in her 80s. She knew about 17 languages. Here's a link to a paper that discusses her methods: http://www.english-learning.co.uk/lomb.alkire.html Ryan,

You should consider adding Heinrich Schliemann, the person who unearthed Troy. He was supposed to be conversant in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Italian, Greek, Latin, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, and his native German.

Here’s one link that talks about his methods, which shows the extent to which he used memorization:

http://wiki.anomalytv.com/tavi/index.php?page=LanguageMethods

Also, from the recent past, you might consider Kato Lomb, a well-known Hungarian self-taught polyglot (and simultaneous translator), who was still learning languages in her 80s. She knew about 17 languages. Here’s a link to a paper that discusses her methods:

http://www.english-learning.co.uk/lomb.alkire.html

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