Several languages are spoken in this densely populated world. People who can speak more than one language are becoming more common. Many people can communicate in three or more languages. There could be a variety of motivations for this, such as career advancement, schooling, or a love of language. But it does make us question how many languages are possible to learn.

To answer your question simply, there is no defined limit for this. We are all different and unique in our own way. We all have various learning styles and capacities. As a result, the number of languages that each person may learn at the same time will differ.

Everything is dependent on your ambitions, motivation, and productivity. Learning three languages may be tough for one individual. On the other side, someone may be able to learn six languages quickly.

What exactly is a Hyperglot?

Linguists estimate that it takes a year of consistent instruction to acquire the fundamentals of a language. Then you’ll have to keep that first knowledge. As a result, a regular human being can learn 10 languages in his or her lifetime.

Speaking 10 languages is enough to qualify as a hyperpolyglot, or someone who speaks more than 6 languages, a term coined in 2003 by Richard Hudson, a London University College Professor Emeritus of Linguistics.

Cardinal Guiseppe Mezzofanti is regarded as one of the world’s most famous hyperpolyglots. On September 19, 1774, he was born in Bologna, Italy. He is fluent in 40 languages, however some claim that he is fluent in nearly a hundred.

How Many Languages Can You Master in Your Lifetime?

There is no definitive answer to this question either, because people study languages for a variety of reasons. They learn it out of necessity, convenience, or a love of languages. Furthermore, because several languages are closely related, learning one will aid in learning the others. The Romance language family is one example. Other languages, such as English and Chinese, may be worlds apart.

There is also the issue of second language fluency. Many languages can be claimed to have been learned. The question then becomes how many languages a person is fluent in. Some are fluent in multiple languages, thus they can only hold brief talks. However, their understanding may not be as extensive as that of a native speaker or someone who has studied the language for a longer period of time.


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