what is the highest number of languages spoken by an individual person?

Question

just wondering

Answer 1

The Guiness Book of World Records has listed many entries of Polyglots over the years, including:

Dr Harold Wlliams, a New Zealand linguist
http://www.nzedge.co.nz/heroes/williams.html

and Georges Schmidt, a UN translator (able to speak 30 languages fluently and translate 66)

Also mentioned was: Cardinal Giuseppe Mezzofanti, who evidently could translate 114 languages, 72 dialects; spoke 39 fluently, 20 passsably, 37 dialects

But the most solid information that I've found is this comprehensive list of known Polyglots, which profiles Donald Kenrick, who is touted to have been able to translate 100, and fluently speak 60:

http://www.english-learning.co.uk/dk&mt.html

Answer 2

i don't be responsive to which united states has maximum languages spoken, yet i'm able to assert that variety my adventure in international merchandising, African international locations have have been given many languages each and each united states. as an occasion: crucial African Republic - 70 languages (inhabitants 4 M) Zambia - 40 languages (inhabitants 11M) Botswana - 28 languages (inhabitants below 2M) As for India, I study that there are over a hundred languages spoken , and it is not magnificent, in a united states with a inhabitants fo over 1B.

Answer 3

i've specialized in languages at university, have 2 mother tongue langues (English and Afrikaans) and working knowledge of French. I'm fully trilingual, i've heard people can speak, read and write up to 14 languages. to be fully conversant in any language means you can speak/read/write. that takes a lot but, it depends what language combinations you have. Some languages are interlinked and one is based on the structure of another, for e.g french and spanish is said to be similar. English has lots of words borrowed from french, dutch is similar to Afrikaans and even Flemish. so, some language combinations follow on from another source or older language.

Answer 4

Ive been thinking of the answer to this one myself : )

It can be very much unknown due to the fact that there are hundreds (if not thousands) of different tribes and villages in remote places like mountains and rainforests.

But I know that Europeans for sure know many, esp the Swiss since there are three national languages and many of them go on to the UN because of their language database if you will. My classmate's father was born in Switzerland and knows 9 languages, which to me is phenonenal.

I am Hungarian and I know it, Romanian, English, French, Im learning Chinese, and am also in the process of Italian. My mom and dad know a combonation of those except Chinese and know Russian, Ukranian, German, and Latin. I think its amazing.

Jackie Chan knows seven or eight. Between Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, and Cambodian (not sure of the rest), he is surely set to travel Asia.

Answer 5

In theory, there are no limits. I personally can speak five languages and I feel I can learn even more languages, granted the opportunity

Answer 6

I knew lots of people in INSCOM in the Army that spoke up to 14 or so. Most linguists speak 4 or 5 and have working knowledge of 2 or 3 more. And to think, these are the so called "stupid" kids that join the Army instead of those "smart" haters that went to college.

Answer 7

The record holder could be Claude Hagège, but he always refused to tell how many languages he speaks.

Answer 8

i think pope John Paul II spoke like 9 fluidly and like 20 good enough to give a speech in. But It´s not an official figure, just something I remember.

Answer 9

I read about people in the newspaper that are fluent in 4 languages.

Answer 10

I speak four languages: Greek, French, Spansih, English. I know some people who speak many more than me!