12 replies to this topic

[sunny]

This boy has just won a competition to see who could speak the most languages. Just amazing!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17107435

[Abi]

Clever lad.

[Fil]

excellent

[Fil]

some more

http://www.bbc.co.uk...gazine-17101370

[swabs]

Wow thats amazing!! Ill be proud when im fluent in Turkish, im dyslexic and my teachers always said i would never be able to learn another language,

I dont know how by 20 years old he can speak 11 languages xx

[sunny]

I suppose some people are gifted in that way like some people are gifted footballers or skiers, cooks etc.

I must say I envy him.

[Vic801]

I don't actually think there is scientifically anything in our genetic programming which determines a person as "gifted" for languages. Environment plays an important part, as he says he had lived in different countries and with a multi-lingual background. The rest is hard graft of learning the grammar which is a pleasure for those who enjoy learning languages but still boils down to hard work. I dislike the word "gifted" because it is as if the gift just dropped into your lap. There is a lot of paddling going on under that swan!

[sunny]

How about 'aptitude' then?

[Vic801]

I honestly don't believe that our chromosones transmit any "aptitude" either. In this case, the boy was brought up in a multi-lingual environment where his ear was trained from any early age to be receptive to different sounds than ones normally heard in his "native" language and environment. You add to that the probability of his family's encouragement, nurture and cultivating the interest of languages and a strong motivation (to be able to communicate with his peer group). And assiduity.
My sister's children are tri-lingual English, Spanish and Chinese and speak fluent Japanese but I wouldn't say they were born more gifted or with more aptitude than any other children.

I am not belittling his feat and certainly impressed by the serious way he has set out to study languages but I would be far more impressed by someone with same skills who had never visited, let alone lived in, a foreign country, or who came from a family who had absolutely no interest in foreign languages or other countries.

[sunny]

I'm afraid i don't agree with you. Why is it different being able to pick up languages than being very good at a sport. Both need work or they won't develop but you've got to have some inbuilt ability to make you shine.

[Vic801]

Sport is different since it is about body mass and muscle development which can be transmitted through your genes. Picking up foreign languages is not something you are born with.

[sunny]

I'm sorry, we'll have to agree to disagree!

[Vic801]

OK by me! 'Night!