Get full access to The Daily Beast for $1

SUBSCRIBE

Michael Erard

articles/2012/01/10/adventures-with-an-extreme-polyglot-excerpt-from-babel-no-more/babel-multiple-languages-erard_ujoskz

Speaking in Tongues

Why would someone learn 20 or 50 languages? Michael Erard meets a hyperpolygot who doesn’t even want to speak the numerous languages he’s learning.

Michael Erard

ADVERTISEMENT

GET THE APP
Subscribe
Log In
Newsletters
Podcasts
AboutContactTipsJobsAdvertiseHelpCode of Ethics & StandardsInclusionTerms & ConditionsCopyright & TrademarkPrivacy

© 2026 The Daily Beast Company LLC