About a month ago, I was invited to Toronto to take part in a discussion panel about hyperpolyglots on a Global TV show called 16x9. The show will be aired nationally (in Canada), this Saturday, May 5th, at 7 pm. It will then be viewable on their website.

http://www.globalnews.ca/word+play/64426...story.html

We spoke several languages, including some Japanese, but whether they will choose to air that specific part or not, I have no idea.

Bookmarked. How many languages do you speak?

5, but I have some knowledge of a few others.

Is this the same thing Steve Kauffmann mentioned on his blog? Was he also a panelist?

yup its the same thing

Indeed.

AlexandreC Wrote:5, but I have some knowledge of a few others.

Looking forward to it, but... proficient in 5 languages, plus 4 passively (can understand and read, but not really speak) plus 3 with only reading knowledge makes me a hyperpolyglot? Or is there some discounting for cognate languages?

Just asking because one of my Japanese studies profs in uni (I think he was Swiss?) was known to read "all European dialects."

Irixmark Wrote:

AlexandreC Wrote:5, but I have some knowledge of a few others.

Looking forward to it, but... proficient in 5 languages, plus 4 passively (can understand and read, but not really speak) plus 3 with only reading knowledge makes me a hyperpolyglot? Or is there some discounting for cognate languages?

Just asking because one of my Japanese studies profs in uni (I think he was Swiss?) was known to read "all European dialects."

They usually say 6 is the magic number; I suppose they invited me for my passion about languages and learning experience.

AlexandreC Wrote:They usually say 6 is the magic number; I suppose they invited me for my passion about languages and learning experience.

I don't want to belittle that at all--I think speaking five languages with native-like fluency is easily as ambitious a goal as speaking a dozen to conversational level (obviously I must think that way because that's my goal ). Not to mention that it's harder to keep five languages at that level than a dozen poorly spoken ones. Definitely looking forward to the programme.

five languages with native like fluency is massively harder than a dozen to conversational level - I could learn a dozen to conversational level by the end of the year based on what I already know, but I am only fluent in English.

Steve said something that learning other languages may actually help improve your other learned languages, passively I suppose, like after he stayed in Japan his Chinese had actually improved to his surprise. That was interesting, makes me think that studying other languages while taking short breaks from Japanese is not necessarily a bad idea.

The video is out there now. ^-^
It was pretty cool. I couldn't help smiling when they were talking about the sort of "language high" people get when using a language sometimes.

turvy Wrote:Steve said something that learning other languages may actually help improve your other learned languages, passively I suppose, like after he stayed in Japan his Chinese had actually improved to his surprise. That was interesting, makes me think that studying other languages while taking short breaks from Japanese is not necessarily a bad idea.

Languages are like fine wine.

So that was just a preview? Cuz it seemed very gutted.

blackbrich Wrote:So that was just a preview? Cuz it seemed very gutted.

There are two videos and they are both only preview videos. The show airs Saturday, May 5th, at 7 pm, as stated above.

Any way someone could record it for those of us who have no means to watch it? Perhaps put an unlisted video on YouTube so only those on this forum with the link could see it.

oh my... how about hypersuperduperpolyglots then ?

Guoguodi Wrote:Any way someone could record it for those of us who have no means to watch it? Perhaps put an unlisted video on YouTube so only those on this forum with the link could see it.

Read the post, the thing is supposed to be up on the website afterwards.

Edit: it's been uploaded now. To find it, click on the link in the OP, and then click on the "Video" link that is directly below the 16:9 banner.

Ｔｈａｔ　ｗａｓ　ｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔｉｎｇ，　Ｉ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｗｉｓｈ　ｉｔ　ｈａｄ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｌｏｎｇｅｒ．

Having watched this I assume our dear Zorlee is also a candidate for those hyperpolyglots. If I reread his story and how he learnt Japanese, it's just so amazing. o_o

http://www.globalnews.ca/16x9/video/full...s=dd#video

About 29 minutes in.

It's a shame they didn't really show much of the panel talk. I'm not very interested in this speculation that polyglots are born with different brains, but it was a cool little show.

same. I wanted to hear the panelists.

I love how they showed some scientific test about memorizing words or something and the host did badly. Then the researcher says something along the lines that hyperpolyglots would probably do much better. Pure speculation. Why not test it?

I agree the speculation about polyglots' brains was unnecessary, especially since it contradicts the general view shared by the interviewees that their language abilities are the result of the right attitude and approach. It sets up an opposition between the two views and does nothing to resolve it.

However, the information regarding patterns in the backgrounds of polyglots is particularly interesting. While it may be easy to be discouraged and assume that the patterns show polyglots have language proficiency built in their genes, it is much more helpful to see the patterns as forming a useful model for what kind of attitude and approach a successful language learner needs.

On a side note: although the program did not point this out, I had the impression that most of the panelists are introverts. Although many of them are outgoing, it doesn't seem like their natural disposition. Did anyone else have a similar observation?

nadiatims Wrote:I love how they showed some scientific test about memorizing words or something and the host did badly. Then the researcher says something along the lines that hyperpolyglots would probably do much better. Pure speculation. Why not test it?

Yeah that was really annoying. Still an interesting show though, not least because it made me think "I should stop watching TV and go study."

P.s. Our polyglot pwned the other polyglots. XD