How many languages can you learn?

Vietnam
January 30, 2010 10:02pm CST
I wonder if we spend most of our time on learning languages, how many languages can one learns and of course can use it in the life's time. I know someone who can learn more than 200, what is your ability?
4 responses
• China
31 Jan 10
En.. I think that learning a language is very difficult. If we spend most of our time on learning languages,I think the most I can learn a few more languages.
• Vietnam
31 Jan 10
Difficult or easy is up to one's ability like talence, intelligence, hobby, hard-working... but according to you, what is the maximum?
@Jules01 (131)
5 May 10
Hi Tombela, I don't think that language learning is limited by the number of languages. I think it is limited by the individual who is trying to learn. Young children do this naturally. It's not uncommon for children to be bilingual. If a young child lives in different countries then they seem to pick up the new languages without much of a problem. It's a natural process. As we get older it seems to become more difficult. I wasn't introduced to a second language until I was 11 years old. I really struggled, as did my classmates. For many of us that was too late. I think that the number of languages anyone can learn is limited by their natural ability to pick up languages, their time exposed to new languages and the amount of time and effort the individual invests.
@chazzief (237)
• Malaysia
2 Feb 10
The most language that I knew people speak is 7 major language, not including native language. However, I believe that if language learning starts since early age, a person might be able to learn more than 10 language, as long as he or she keeps practicing those languages in daily life.
@arumisan (45)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
As many as I can:D But in all seriousness, I guess it depends on the fluency levels you want to achieve in the language. Additionally, depending on what your mother tongue was, it may be easy to pick up other languages of a similar nature. In contrast, you mother language may hinder you from learning the language at a quicker pace. Also, it's easier to pick up a language when you're younger as you ability to learn quickly diminishes as you get older. As such I would want to learn at the very least 3, and hopefully 5 in my lifetime. And being fluent at the languages.