How many foreign languages can a person learn?

According to statistics, many people around the world are now fluent in more than two languages. Moreover, free communication in three languages will surprise no one. As a proof of this, we can remember our grandparents, who often had to move from city to city and even from country to country. This led to people, speaking 4 or even 5 different languages. In India it is considered that every average person should be able to speak 5 or 6 languages. The fact whether the human brain has limitations and how many languages a person can learn is worth exploring in more details.

Some famous polyglots in history

Science develops very rapidly and it is difficult just to believe that nowadays it is still unknown exactly how many languages a person can learn.

Since the earliest times, knowledge of a foreign language demonstrated the culture, high morality and education of a person. According to all known information, almost all military leaders, diplomats, workers of culture and science and politicians, recorded in history, spoke several foreign languages. The first famous polyglot in history is considered to be Mithridates VI Eupator. The tzar became famous for the fact that he fought successfully for years against the Roman Empire with assistance of his multinational army. It is believed that the tzar of Pontus knew 22 languages.

Cleopatra, the well-known queen of Egypt, spoke at least 10 languages. And Ziyad Fawzi, a teacher at the University of Sao Paulo, was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records for speaking 58 languages. In 1997 he was officially recognized as a main polyglot in the world. The record has not yet been surpassed, but everything is possible. The Italian resident Alberto Talnavi speaks all existing European languages nowadays. He knows 15 languages and tries to learn 2-3 new ones every year. The list of polyglots shall be also complemented with the British traveler, poet, translator, linguist, hypnotist, diplomat and writer - Captain Sir Richard F. Burton. According to all available information, the Briton knew 29 languages.

Ordinary translators are often proficient in two working languages. At the same time practicing translators - polyglots professionally work at the translation agency, using only 3-4 languages.