通晓多门语言的人是如何学习语言的？

How do polyglots learn languages?

词汇：考研 | 句法：高考 | 文本：考研

刘立军供稿

How many languages do you speak? For most people, it can be hard learning just one foreign language. Lydia Machova, a Slovakian polyglot and language mentor, is currently fluent in seven foreign languages and says she likes to learn a new language every two years! So how do polyglots like Lydia learn multiple languages successfully, and what can we learn from their methods?  

你会说几种语言？对大多数人来说，掌握一门外语已经很不容易了。斯洛伐克一位通晓多门语言者兼语言导师莉迪亚·马霍娃目前已能流利使用七门外语，还表示自己喜欢每两年就学一门新语言！那么，像莉迪亚这样的多语言者是如何成功掌握多种语言的？我们又能从他们的方法中学到什么？

Lydia wanted to find out the different techniques polyglots use, and she found a wide variety of methods. Some use language exchange apps to find native speakers so that they can start speaking from day one. Others watch series they love with subtitles, and some use techniques like ‘shadowing’ – listening to and repeating target language to master pronunciation.

莉迪亚想了解多语言者所使用的不同方法，结果发现，大家的方法五花八门。有人通过语言交际app找到母语者，第一天就能开口练习；有人看自己感兴趣的带字幕的连续剧；还有人采用“影子跟读法”——通过听和模仿目标语言来掌握发音。

Kato Lomb was described by the linguist Krashen as “possibly the most accomplished polyglot in the world”. She was a Hungarian who spoke 16 languages! Her approach to learning focused on extensive reading and self-study. So, while there are lots of different approaches, in her 2019 TED Talk, Lydia concluded that the one thing polyglots all have in common is an interest and motivation to learn.  

语言学家克拉申曾如此形容卡托·伦布（Kato Lomb）：“她可能是世界上最杰出的语言天才”，因为这位匈牙利女性掌握了16种语言！她的学习方式以广泛阅读和自学为主。尽管语言的学习方法多种多样，在2019年的TED演讲中，莉迪亚总结道：所有掌握多门语言的人有一个共同点，那就是对学习语言充满兴趣，动力十足。

However, some linguists argue that viral videos showing polyglots switching between languages often rely on memorised phrases rather than proving genuine conversational ability. Benny Lewis, author and creator of the website Fluent in 3 Months, thinks it’s important to be open and honest about your competency in a language. He discusses having varying levels of proficiency in the languages he speaks, from basic conversation to near-native fluency.  

然而，一些语言学家指出，网上流行的那些展示多语言者在不同语言间自由切换的视频，往往依赖于事先背诵好的短语，而非真正具备流畅的对话能力。“三个月流利说外语”网站的作者兼创始人本尼·刘易斯认为，对自己掌握一门语言的程度保持开放和诚实非常重要。他提到，自己对所掌握的语言的水平各有不同，从基础对话到接近母语流利程度不等。

So, the professionals say enjoy yourself when learning. We recommend you try some of these suggestions, find the right method for you and stick to it!  

因此，专业人士建议，在学习语言的过程中要享受乐趣。我们推荐你尝试以上这些方法，找到最适合自己的方法，并坚持下去！

【词汇】

1. polyglot n. 通晓多种语言的人  

2. mentor n. 导师，指导者  

3. subtitle n. 字幕  

4. linguist n. 语言学家  

5. extensive adj. 广泛的，全面的  

6. viral adj. 迅速流行的  

7. competency n. 能力

（本文图片来源于摄图网，版权归摄图网所有)