Welcome to an exciting exploration of languages! From Bhutanese to Na’vi, let’s dive into the fascinating world of words and grammar.
A polyglot is someone who speaks multiple languages fluently. One of the most famous polyglots is Ziad Fazah, who claims to know over 50 languages. Born in Monrovia, Liberia, in 1954, Fazah reportedly learned most of these languages as a teenager, mastering three to four every three months. Although he was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for his linguistic prowess, his claims have been met with skepticism over the years.
For instance, during a Chilean TV show in 1997, Fazah struggled to answer questions in languages he claimed to know, leading to doubts about his abilities. Despite this, the idea of mastering multiple languages remains intriguing. Another notable polyglot was Dr. Kenneth Hale, who was said to have mastered over 50 languages before his passing in 2001.
Languages are complex, with intricate grammar and vocabulary rules. Let’s refresh some of these rules:
Use “who” when referring to the subject of a sentence, like “Who did this?” Use “whom” for the object of a verb or preposition, such as “Whom do I vote for?” A quick tip: if you can replace “who” with “he” and “whom” with “him,” you’re using them correctly.
“Lay” requires a direct object, as in “I lay down my book.” “Lie” does not, as in “I need to lie down.” The past tense of “lay” is “laid,” while the past tense of “lie” is “lay.” Their past participles are “laid” and “lain,” respectively.
Use “if” for conditional sentences, like “Watch this movie if you want to enjoy it.” Use “whether” when presenting two options, such as “She didn’t know whether to call or text.”
Irony often confuses people. Situational irony occurs when the expected outcome is reversed, like in “The Wizard of Oz,” where characters discover they already possess what they seek. Although irony is sometimes mistaken for coincidence or paradox, it has a distinct meaning.
According to the AP Style Guide, use “that” for essential clauses and “which” for non-essential ones. For example, “The book that I read was fascinating” versus “The book, which I read last week, was fascinating.”
Language is always changing, and lexicographers are the experts who track these changes. They update dictionaries by adding new words based on frequent, widespread, and meaningful use.
Morphology studies word formation, while phonology focuses on the organization of speech sounds. Contronyms are words with opposite meanings, like “left.”
If you’re interested in creating a language, consider Dr. Paul Frommer’s work on Na’vi for the film “Avatar.” He developed around 1,000 words and established rules for this fictional language.
Thanks for joining this language journey! Keep exploring and discovering the wonders of words.
Interview someone who speaks multiple languages. Prepare questions about their language learning journey, challenges, and tips for others. Present your findings to the class, highlighting the benefits and difficulties of being a polyglot.
Create a game where you and your classmates compete to correctly use tricky grammar rules like “who vs. whom” or “lay vs. lie.” Use examples from the article and add your own. The winner gets a small prize!
Research and create a timeline showing how a specific language has evolved over time. Include major changes in grammar, vocabulary, and usage. Present your timeline to the class, explaining the factors that influenced these changes.
Challenge yourself to write a pangram or a lipogram. A pangram should include every letter of the alphabet, while a lipogram should intentionally omit a letter. Share your creations with the class and discuss the difficulties you encountered.
Inspired by Dr. Paul Frommer’s work on Na’vi, create a basic language with its own set of grammar rules and vocabulary. Present your language to the class, explaining your creative process and the unique features of your language.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, welcome to the Mental Floss video! Today, we’re going to talk about language—everything from Bhutanese to Na’vi. Let’s get started.
A polyglot is someone who has mastered multiple languages, and one famous polyglot is Ziad Fazah, who allegedly knows over 50 languages. He was born in 1954 in Monrovia, Liberia. According to one source, he learned almost all of those languages while he was a teenager, picking up three to four every three months. He has since written books about language in various languages. During the 1990s, Fazah’s name appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of languages he knew, although that is no longer the case. Back then, he reportedly knew somewhere between 54 and 56 languages, with some sources claiming the number is up to 59.
To give you a sense of what that means, according to The Economist, an English-speaking adult knows the meaning of about 30,000 words, but to be fluent in a foreign language, someone might know one-tenth of that. That would give Ziad a vocabulary of around 177,000 total words. If you’re feeling skeptical, you’re not alone. Many people have pointed out inconsistencies in Fazah’s claimed knowledge over the years. For example, a blogger noticed that he listed Dzongkha and Bhutanese as separate languages, but they are actually synonyms.
Fazah faced significant scrutiny during a Chilean show, “Viva el Lunes,” in 1997. When asked questions in multiple languages he claimed to know, including Finnish, Chinese, and Greek, he answered some incorrectly and responded in the wrong language for others. He contends that the show tricked him and edited his answers, but regardless, it was a challenging moment for him.
You might wonder how many languages one person can actually speak. It’s complicated, as there isn’t a definitive test for this, aside from putting someone on a talk show. There are many historical legends of polyglots that now seem unrealistic. A more modern example is Dr. Kenneth Hale, who passed away in 2001 and was said to have mastered over 50 languages.
Certain grammar and vocabulary rules can feel impossible to remember, so let’s do a quick refresher. It’s important to note that language is constantly changing, especially informal language, so many of these are formal rules that may fade away.
Let’s start with “who” and “whom.” Use “who” when talking about the subject of a sentence, like in the question “Who did this?” “Whom” is the object of a verb or preposition, so you’d say “For whom do I vote?” or “Whom do I vote for?” If you want to check if you’re using them correctly, you should be able to substitute “who” with “he” and “whom” with “him” or “her.” This is a formal rule that doesn’t always apply in casual conversation, where “who” is more commonly used.
Next, let’s discuss “lay” and “lie.” You use “lay” when a subject is putting down an object, like “I lay down my book.” “Lie” is when the subject is in a horizontal position, like “I need to lie down.” The past tense of “lay” is “laid,” while the past tense of “lie” is “lay.” The past participles are “laid” and “lain.”
Now, let’s move on to “whether” vs. “if.” Formally, use “if” for conditional sentences, like “Watch this movie if you want to enjoy it.” Use “whether” when stating there are two options, like “She didn’t know whether to call or text.”
The definition of irony has been a topic of confusion. Situational irony occurs when someone’s intended result is reversed, like in “The Wizard of Oz,” where characters realize they had what they were seeking all along. While some argue that irony is not a coincidence or a paradox, the term has been used imprecisely for many years.
Regarding “that” and “which,” the AP Style Guide suggests using “that” for essential clauses and “which” for non-essential clauses. For example, “The book that I read was fascinating” vs. “The book, which I read last week, was fascinating.”
Language is constantly evolving, and lexicographers are the ones who track this evolution. They write and edit dictionaries, noticing new words and meanings in various sources. The criteria for adding a word to a dictionary include frequent use, widespread use, and meaningful use.
Let’s quickly list some lesser-known terms related to language phenomena. An acrolect is a prestigious dialect, while a pangram is a sentence that contains every letter of the alphabet. A lipogram is a phrase where one or more letters are intentionally omitted. Ghost words are those that appear in dictionaries but have never been used. Crutch words are fillers like “actually” and “like.”
Morphology is the study of how words are formed, while phonology is about how speech sounds are organized. Contronyms are words that can mean their opposite, like “left.”
If you’re interested in creating your own language, Dr. Paul Frommer was enlisted by James Cameron to develop Na’vi for the film “Avatar.” Frommer created around 1,000 words and established rules for the language.
Thanks for watching the Mental Floss video, made with the help of many contributors. Please subscribe to our channel for more interesting videos, and don’t forget to be awesome!
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Languages – Systems of communication used by particular countries or communities, consisting of spoken or written words in a structured and conventional way. – Many students in the class are studying different languages to enhance their communication skills and cultural understanding.
Polyglot – A person who knows and is able to use several languages. – As a polyglot, Maria can converse fluently in Spanish, French, and Mandarin, making her a valuable asset in international business meetings.
Grammar – The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in a language. – Understanding grammar is essential for writing clear and effective essays in English class.
Vocabulary – The body of words used in a particular language. – Expanding your vocabulary can significantly improve your ability to express ideas more precisely and creatively.
Irony – The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. – The irony in her statement was evident when she said, “What a beautiful day,” as it poured rain outside.
Morphology – The study of the form and structure of words in a language, including the formation of words through inflection, derivation, and compounding. – In linguistics class, we examined the morphology of English to understand how words are formed and modified.
Phonology – The study of the sound system of a language, including the rules for combining and using phonemes. – Phonology helps linguists understand how sounds function in different languages and dialects.
Dialect – A particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group. – The dialect spoken in the southern part of the country has distinct vocabulary and pronunciation compared to the northern regions.
Lexicographers – People who compile dictionaries, studying words and their meanings, usage, and etymology. – Lexicographers play a crucial role in documenting the evolution of language and ensuring that dictionaries remain accurate and up-to-date.
Pangram – A sentence that contains every letter of the alphabet at least once. – “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” is a classic example of a pangram used to test typewriters and keyboards.
