The method of a polygot to learn a language
Cardinal Joseph Mezzofanti 1774-1849 taught himself more than 38 languages fluently. Perhaps the best confirmed polyglot that ever lived. People have speculated he spoke more than 38 languages, but Cardinal Messofanti was confirmed and tested to be perfectly fluent in 38 languages. You can read in more detail about his history, but this post concerns his method, that is his method to learn a language and become a polyglot.
Cardinal Mezzofanti’s method for learning a language was simple. He would translate books he already knew. The Bible being his favorite of course. He worked with the Bible to lean a language. From the Bible you have every basic word you can imagine, except for modern inventions which are usually universal. From the Bible you have all the basic grammatical structures. You can study the grammatical variants and derive an understanding of grammar. You can find a variety of translations in any language from formal to vernacular or dialectical (today we even have hip hop Bibles which can help you learn a language with everyday street talk). You can meditate on the passages all day. This is why he choose the Bible to learn languages. After translating the Bible and other universal books, he would go out to Rome and practice with native speakers. Rome had visitors from all over the world so he had the opportunity to practice.
His main characteristics were patience and persistence. You do not have to be fluent in 38 languages or even a polyglot, but consider his method and character, if you want to learn even one foreign language.
2 responses to The method of a polyglot to learn a language
Mezzofanti spoke even several dialects of a language, for example he spoke six dialects of XIX century Hungarian. the bible may helped him with learning languages, but his main method was an aural method, he learnt from the wounded soldiers in different languages the our father or other prayers when administering the last sacrament or when he heard somebody’s confession.
@Mihaly, You are preaching to the choir, I think prayer and conversation with others are great ways to learn. I think many hours he studied the bible and this was his main method but I could be wrong.
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