Polyglotism & its merits or otherwise...
Over the course of the last year of my membership of this amazing forum I've read much on matters such as bilingualism, fluency and language proficiency. Occasionally members introduce languages other than Spanish & English, although I appreciate that this is a Spanish/English forum, therefore its focus is, & should be, these languages.
However, it has also become apparent to me that we have the privilege of counting among our members many who possess some level of proficiency in at least three languages, thus are, technically, 'polyglots'.
Technically, I believe the definition of a 'polyglot' is someone who has a meaningful degree of proficiency in 'several' languages. For practical purposes, I'll take 'several' as meaning 'at least three'. However, in terms of how extensive this degree of proficiency need be in order to qualify one as a 'polyglot', I'm not sure. There are various, differing definitions, & I've seen some as 'lite' as 'possessing interest in & knowledge of several languages'. However, I reckon that's a bit too 'lite'. I mean, I'm interested in pretty much every major language, but would be lucky if I could pronounce more than two or three words in a dozen of them.
Thus, I would suggest that for one's 'interest' in a language to count towards being a 'polyglot' it should mean that one has taken enough of an interest in that language to be able to use it in a useful manner, which, in the context of modern languages, means to be able to speak it (to express most ideas that one might have) & to understand it when spoken back to one - at least to an 'extent'. (As a semi-interesting aside, does knowledge of 'dead' languages count at all? I believe the 'glot' part of the word refers to the 'tongue', i.e. speech.)
However, what is the 'extent' of this 'extent' ? This brings us back to the thorny topics of bilingualism, fluency & proficiency.
For me, personally, I never will be, shall be, or would wish ever to be 'bilingual'. I believe 'bilingualism', in its true sense, is probably quite rare in my own culture (although commonplace in others), and entails learning two languages & their cultural associations from a very young age & on a sustained basis throughout childhood & into early adulthood. Sometimes the process is not entirely complete in one or the other or both of the 'bilingual' languages, leaving the speaker a bit of a linguistic/cultural misfit (although, in my own personal view, this is not necessarily a bad thing).
Fluency is something I believe I perhaps could, conceivably, attain in a number of languages, including, for example, Spanish & French (although, by my age, perhaps not, for example, Chinese (although, you never really know)). However, the circumstances would have to be right, e.g. the opportunity to live in a country where the target language is the main spoken language for a protracted period, maybe 12-24 months for a Romance language.
Proficiency is sometimes a more valuable level of attainment than fluency (& easier, depending on the individual), sometimes not. For me, it has more to do with one's ability to express oneself & to handle reading material than one's ability to understand the larger world around oneself. In a way one can be proficient without being fluent, yet fluent without being proficient. Indeed, some native-speakers are fluent while hopeless at expressing themselves in their own language, yet nonetheless they possess a much broader recognition of words that might be thrown at them in their own language than a foreigner. Yet the same foreigner might possess a better imagination, so could use a more limited vocabulary to express him/herself more acrobatically.
Therefore, in conclusion, I shall propose that a 'polyglot' may pass as such possessing certainly less than bilingual ability, and indeed perhaps even less than fluent ability, but at least proficient ability in at least three languages.
Of course, in the grand scheme of polyglots, such a polyglot would be only a puny 90-lbs weakling, having grammar books kicked in his face on the language beach by Goliaths who speak five or six languages fluently. Nonetheless, s/he remains a 'polyglot'.
Do I consider myself a 'polyglot' ? Sadly not, not even one of these 90-lbs weakling versions. I say 'sadly not' not because I have a burning desire to be one, but partly for rhetorical effect, & partly also because I wish it were so easy as waving a magic wand. The reality is that I have a practical reason for attempting to learn Spanish, & although I reckon I'm making OK progress, nonetheless it's not always easy (but it is usually fun).
One day maybe I'll be one of those wee 90-lbs weaklings. If you're a Mister/Misses Atlas of this wonderful word of languages, please be gentle... 
Aprender idiomas: como construir castillos de arena en la playa pero más divertido...
1 Answer
I tell my students that language learning is much like learning to play a musical instrument or learning a martial art. You could study 20 books on how to play the guitar, advanced fretwork, finger-picking vs. plectrum, etc, then take a test, get 100% on it and still not be able to play a note if you haven't picked the thing up, placed one hand on the fingerboard and the other on the strings and attempted to play some music.
My main instrument is the guitar. I have fairly well mastered the instrument. I also play the piano quite well. So if we were talking languages here I would be "bilingual" or "bi-instrumantal" I do not play any of the bowed instruments or horns or wood winds. I do play the bass guitar, but technically that's still a guitar with four low pitched strings. Therefore I am not a "polyinstrumental"
Same thing in martial arts. I hold first degree black belt in Kempo Karate. I am considered a low level master or "sensei" I also hold a brown belt in judo. So I am not a bi-martial artist. I fool around a little with Chinese Kung Fu (Wing-Chun) style, but I have not attained any degree of proficiency in it. There are many styles of Japanese and Okinawan Karate. I can recognize them when I see them, but that's about all. I tell my students that you don't get a black belt by watching Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris movies a million times.
So In the area of music and martial arts I am like most of the people here regarding language. I know one or two at the highest "fluent" level so to speak, and have a passing acquaintance with others.
In the area of languages, I have "native" fluency in both Spanish and English. Most people meeting me for the first time are surprised to learn of my Spanish heritage. All during my school and college days I got nothing less that A+ in my English classes.
So I am bilingual. It's funny but the lack of practice has made me somewhat less than proficient in my first language, French. (My mother is Quebequoise) It's been years since I've had the opportunity to speak French, and when I teach it, which isn't very often it is always at the most elementary level.
So, whether you are mono, bi, or poly glot, the only way you got there was by muchísima práctica.
