2006-11-14 21:00:38 · 17 answers · asked by `_weilin# 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
multilingual
2006-11-14 21:03:29 · answer #1 · answered by JOhNe=mc² 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Multilingual is a good adjective. Polyglot is a good noun.
A "linguist" is not a person who speaks a lot of languages. A linguist is someone who studies language scientifically. Unfortunately, the military calls their interrogators and translators linguists. This is a misnomer, in my opinion. Although many linguists like to learn languages, we do not simply learn them, but study them to learn how language works.
2006-11-17 23:38:43 · answer #2 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
POLYGLOT
Etymology:
From Greek ÏολÏγλÏÏÏÎ¿Ï (literally, many-tongued) < ÏολÏÏ (polus), many + γλῶÏÏα (glÅtta), tongue; compare to French polyglotte
Pronunciation:
IPA: /pÉliËglÉt/
Adjective
polyglot
Containing, or made up, of, several languages.
a polyglot lexicon; a polyglot Bible
Versed in, or speaking, many languages.
Translations:
Dutch: veeltalig
Finnish: monikielinen (1, 2)
Swedish: flerspråkig (1, 2), polyglott (1, 2)
Noun:
polyglot (plural: polyglots)
One who speaks several languages.
Quotations
A polyglot, or good linguist - Howell
A book containing several versions of the same text, or containing the same subject matter in several languages; esp., the Scriptures in several languages.
Quotations:
Enriched by the publication of polyglots - Abp. Newcome
(Computer programming): A program written in multiple programming languages.
Translations:
Basque: eleaskodun
Dutch: talenknobbel m, f, talenkenner m, f, polyglot m, f
Esperanto: poligloto
French: polyglotte m, f
German: Sprachenkundiger m, Sprachenkundige f
Hebrew: ר×-×ש×× ×
Portuguese: poliglota m, f
Spanish: polÃglota m
Swedish: flerspråkig person c (1), flerspråkig bok c (2), polyglott c (1, 2)
Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/polyglot"
2006-11-15 08:01:02 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
A linguist is a scientist who studies languages but the term is sometimes used to describe a person who is good at learning languages (but not necessarily multilingual). "She is a linguist by nature" somebody might say, referring to a person's gift for languages. A person who ACTUALLY speaks many languages is called a polyglot.
2006-11-15 06:27:50 · answer #4 · answered by Chevalier 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
POLYGLOT is the only word that covers your definition of someone who can speak a lot of languages.
Any word with "multi" in it only indicates that the person speaks more than one language.
So, a polyglot is also multilingual, but is does not (necessarily) work the other way around.
2006-11-15 08:28:37 · answer #5 · answered by Hi y´all ! 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
A linguist is some one who has/is studying languages. You can be a linguist without the ability of speaking another language.
2006-11-15 05:10:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
You call them a polyglot. The term "linguist" is not correct. "Linguist" refers to a scientist who works in the field of Linguistics, not to someone who speaks a lot of languages. POLYGLOT is the correct term.
2006-11-15 05:25:00 · answer #7 · answered by Taivo 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Linguistic
2006-11-15 05:12:19 · answer #8 · answered by Rozzy 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Linguist
2006-11-15 05:03:32 · answer #9 · answered by mattinoh63 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
A person who speaks a lot of languages is called "Cocktail".
or a "Multilinguistic Person".
2006-11-15 05:04:39 · answer #10 · answered by Prince 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
A linguist.
2006-11-15 05:02:45 · answer #11 · answered by The professor 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋