Famous Polyglots and Their Secrets

08.10.2016

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Nowadays more and more people see the need of learning foreign languages and strain after acquiring of the necessary knowledge, skills, and what is more – they feel like learning and even have their hearts set on it. But for some reason when it comes to the learning process itself, it often becomes mentally draining, exhausting and fruitless. Why does it? Probably it’s the lack of motivation, as many people would think. “Knowledge of a foreign language is a competitive edge in the labor market”, “knowledge of a foreign language expands communication opportunities”, “knowledge of a foreign language contributes to cultural and mental development” – all these statements are so worn out that they no longer motivate anyone and sound like clichés. Though they would seem to contain rather compelling arguments for learning languages, they do not add the motivation to train and pleasure to the learning process. But indeed there are people who know dozens of languages – how do they succeed in it? Is it possible to devote your lifetime to something just by forcing yourself? Or there may be another important ingredient that we underestimate focusing narrowly on motivation…
Position of Language in the Life of a Polyglot
Taking a look into a reference regarding polyglotism and polyglots, one may see that many famous people, such as great Russian writers Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Griboyedov, Alexander Ostrovsky, Serbian physicist and ‘the citizen of the world’ Nikola Tesla, German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann and others, knew many languages. But it was not the knowledge of languages they became famous for. It means languages were neither their aims nor even means, but rather a kind of an outlet. Ostrovsky, who knew several languages and translated Shakespeare's sonnets, wrote in his diaries that the translations were ‘a kind of knitting’ for him, they unbent his mind. Surely, it is not about motivation. There should be something more… Such an attitude to the process of learning languages is possible only if one falls in love with it, gets captured by the process itself, gains inspiration – that’s the only way. But how to do it?
Perceive the Language Atmosphere, Tune in its Wave
Dmitry Petrov’s (a Russian polyglot) view of this problem is extremely interesting. According to different sources, this man with a simple Russian last name knows from 30 to 50 languages. He works as an interpreter with several languages, while he knows the rest of them to different extents enough for communication and survival in the most distant nooks of the globe. Dmitry Petrov considers his love for languages beyond logical explanation, though the linguistic philosophy lying in the heart of his method is quite logical. Dmitry is convinced that only a small part of communication between people is realized directly by means of language, while the main stream of information is transferred nonverbally at the energetic level. According to Petrov, language is a wave one needs to tune in for it to be able to perform its communicative function. In the beginning of the process of learning a language Dmitry Petrov recommends shaping an image of the language out of the associations connected with it and returning to the image from time to time during the course of learning, observing as it changes and develops with you. Besides, Petrov recommends setting your mind for perception of new speech and culture the following way: listening to the songs and the radio in the foreign language, watching movies and series (by the way, we have a list of the best ones here ), enjoying the traditional cuisine, surrounding yourself with the art objects of the target language country. It is not a big deal if you don’t understand the speech at first, because the main goal is to fall in love with this new ‘music’ and to let it in.
Involve your Emotions
The philosophy of Dmitry Petrov is quite seamlessly complemented with a concept of a Canadian polyglot Steve Kaufmann, knowing more than thirteen languages and having a big bundle of analytical discoveries made in the process of learning languages and exploring the latest researches in the sphere of linguistics. Kaufmann thinks that acquiring a new language one should rely more on the needs of his or her brain. So, it is necessary to nourish your brain with the information in the foreign language which is the most interesting and relevant for it. For example, if you prefer computer games (which may also become a good way of learning a language) to reading books, but try to feed yourself with a book by Melville in English out of good intentions, supposing the latter occupation will bring you much more benefit, you are in danger of facing a brick wall constructed by your brain to cut itself off not only from reading original classical literature, but also from the entire process of learning the language. Kaufmann guesses that pleasure and interest in the subject are much more effective than dry though useful information. He also recommends involving your emotions: communicating with the native speakers who provoke friendly (and not only) feelings in you, listening to the audio recordings with the voices pleasant to your ears, performing exercises and tasks that bring you pleasure. To his mind, this is exactly the way language is acquired by children: not with an effort, but through game, pleasure, and emotions. Emotions are a powerful drive of the mechanisms of our brains, so rely on them.
Get into the Character of a Native Speaker
Hermann Bamberger, the famous Orientalist and traveler allegedly becoming the prototype of Abraham Van Helsing, the character of ‘Dracula’, the novel by Bram Stocker (Bamberger knew the author personally), stood out for a rare talent for imitation. He knew more than seven languages and could ‘transform’ into a native speaker of any of them. He copied gestures and mimics of the people whose language he was speaking, and could act as a European in Europe, and as an Asian in Asia. There are rumors that Bamberger had something to do with the intelligence (no wonder, having such abilities!). And most probably it was this ability ‘to get into the character’ that became one of the main driving motives for development of his language skills. Dmitry Petrov, already known to us, half-jokingly says about himself that speaking, for example, Italian, he unconsciously becomes more emotional, while switching to German he begins to notice that he is more prone to self-discipline and order. This point is also important according to Steve Kaufmann: when learning a language we change, and so do our identities. A reason why the learning process slows down may be in rejection of these changes. Learn to be ‘another person’, get into the character, and imagine that you are playing a new role. It will allow you to overcome uneasiness at pronouncing the sounds which are peculiar to your native language and to feel how you consciousness is changing under the influence of the new language. Get inspired with your own play!
Don’t be Afraid of Mistakes
Many linguists and polyglots share this view. Mistakes are a burden that drags your down and does not let you move forward. Surely, the opinions of some polyglots such as, for example, Irishman Benny Lewis regarding this point, may provoke bewilderment among vigorous grammar Nazi, because according to his methods the fight with mistakes slows down the learning process and it is better to accept them as a part of yourself than to try to bring your knowledge of a language to perfection. Here many would probably notice sarcastically that it is hardly a language expert if having such a relaxed attitude to his mistakes. But Lewis is fluent at ten languages, travels around the world and feels comfortable doing it – because he’s got the drive, this exact drive that it is impossible to succeed without. Undoubtedly, you should strive for the better, but you shouldn’t let mistakes restrain you, depriving of the pleasure to do your favorite things.
‘Motivation’ is a vague word today, which literary means ‘incentive to action’. But successful learning of a language requires not just ‘incentive’ to action but rather ‘awakening’ that is inspiration. It is inspiration which is the key ingredient without which the process of learning a language becomes darkened with boredom and loses its true point for the learner. Without inspiration the best and cutting-edge textbooks become covered with dust; without inspiration the dream to speak another language becomes fossilized and distant; without inspiration the soil, where you initially were eager to plant a picturesque garden of new unknown words, withers. Use the advice of the people supremely inspired by their occupation and you will be able to achieve even more breakneck success in it. Get inspired and inspire others with your example!

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Famous Polyglots and Their Secrets

Position of Language in the Life of a Polyglot

Perceive the Language Atmosphere, Tune in its Wave

Involve your Emotions

Get into the Character of a Native Speaker

Don’t be Afraid of Mistakes

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