Verbal Ability - One Word Substitutes - Discussion

Linguist vs Polyglot.

These two terms are often confused. There is technically a difference between a linguist and a polyglot, and a person can be one without the other. Let me explain. A linguist is technically someone who specializes in the science of linguistics, which, as Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines it, is "the study of human speech including the units, nature, structure, and modification of language. " Many linguists are not polyglots, and many polyglots are not linguists. A linguist can be monolingual, speaking perhaps only English, but can research and analyze different languages without truly learning to speak them. A polyglot (from Greek poly, many + glotta, language) is someone who speaks several languages. I am a polyglot who also happens to be a linguist. I began learning to speak various languages as a teenager. I have only recently, however, in the last six years, become a linguist in the scientific sense of the word where I am actually documenting and analyzing the inner workings of languages and the similarities and differences between them.

Let me clear your doubts. Here is a very minute difference between these two words:.

Polyglot: a person who knows and is able to use several languages, these languages may or may not be foreign. This person can speak many languages besides his native language.

Linguist: a person skilled in foreign languages, these languages strictly are foreign. This person knows and studies other languages.

The best way I have seen this term explained is that a linguist is one who studies the science of language, which includes the physical aspects of languages, such as their sound structures, syntax, relation to other languages and culture, and their evolution.

Can we try to differentiate between a person who knows many languages and a person who knows how to speak many languages?

Since knowing involves having knowledge about a language, not specifically knowing the language, a linguist is the most precise answer.

It is polyglot, not linguist.

Polyglot is one who can speak several language, but a linguist is one who systematically or scientifically studies a language. So, the answer of the above question should be A Polyglot.

Polyglot: knowing or using several languages: Linguist: a person who speaks several languages,

Bilingual: speaking two languages fluently:: Multilingual:able to speak and understand several languages.

Answer must be polyglot as it means a person who knows and able to use many languages whereas linguist means a person who knows several aspects of a language like phonetics, semantics etc.

I think the correct option is a polyglot, instead of a linguist.

Polyglot - Who know several foreign languages.

Linguist - Who know and study the foreign language in very detail.

Linguist: a person skilled in foreign languages. Grammarian: a person who studies and writes about grammar.

Polyglot: knowing or using several languages.

Poly = many.
Glot = having a tongue or speaking.
Polyglot = one who can speak many language.

Lingu = language.
Linguist = one who is expert of languages.