An interesting exercise would consist in comparing the definition(s) of 'polyglot' between various languages.

A Polish paper dictionary I have here says: one who speaks many languages. Now, 'many' is different from 'several' or 'from two up' and I think that it is 'many' that influences my interpretation of the term polyglot. 'Many' means 'an indefinite large number.'

See also the following Wikipedia entry in Spanish:

and equivalents of this entry in other languages:

P.S. See also Polyglots

So, moving between various languages, 'polyglot' could be, to some extent, a false friend. While in the English-speaking world a bilingual person can be considered a polyglot, not so elsewhere.

It is also the case of 'linguist' who in Polish has only the first of the following two English meanings:

Hi, Jacek. I think it is sometimes really hard to determine how many languages you speak, or especially how many you understand.   The more languages you learn, the more you understand, not proportionally. For example if you learn a Slavic language, you may be able to understand another two or three Slavic languages. The same is true about Scandinavian languages, some Romance languages, and many others most likely. It is also hard to determine what speaking a language is. Basic communication? Philosophical discourses?Interpreting medical testimony? 

Hi, Jacek. I think it is sometimes really hard to determine how many languages you speak, or especially how many you understand.   ... It is also hard to determine what speaking a language is. Basic communication? Philosophical discourses?Interpreting medical testimony?

I must agree with Liliana here about Jacek's linguistic skills, he never seizes to amaze me with his understanding of linguistic structures. If humans ever encounter alien species I think Jacek must be nominated for participating in the communication with these aliens .

As for what is speaking a language: I don't know. Whenever I go abroad I ususally manage to order a beer in the local language fairly quickly, wheather it be in Slovenian or Gaelic, but that is more because I have found that attitude a great way to strike up a conversation with the locals in the pub. These locals, by the way, usually display a desire to speak in a foreign language, I think this is a univerversal streak of mankind, the urge to communicate. My best guess of what speaking a language is: the ability to think in that language as if it is your native language. But, as I said, this is a guess at best.

Theo, Dutchman in France

Thank you, Theo. I knew I was a maverick, and a fan of X-files for a while, so maybe somewhere out there they will, indeed, require my services one day...

As for

My best guess of what speaking a language is: the ability to think in that language as if it is your native language

we had some discussion in the past about thinking being language-less. See, for example:

http://forums.philosophyforums.com/threads/thought-precedes-language-27660.html

Language Children think before they speak: Nature 

But that would be opening another Pandora's box...

Jacek

Hi, Anne-Christine. I thought most young people in Sweden spoke at least two languages, Swedish and English. I lived in Sweden for a while and this is my experience. Swedish people usually speak English quite well.

Liliana

I am sorry, you said two foreign languages, they just probably understand other Scandinavian languages, without speaking them.

Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on November 27, 2008 4:57 PM The more languages you learn, the more you understand, not proportionally. For example if you learn a Slavic language, you may be able to understand another two or three Slavic languages. The same is true about Scandinavian languages, some Romance languages, and many others most likely.

When first I (tried to) read The Canterbury Tales in Middle English (ME), I was frequently lost to the point where frustration set in. Then I realised that ME reminded me of Danish and German and suddenly reading ME was fun and a very interesting journey.  I cannot read it in chunks like I do English or Danish, and I have to stop and think, but it is no longer frustrating but fun. Looking at the map below, you can see why ME would be easier to understand having Old Norse simmering on the back burner.

The approximate extent of Old Norse and related languages in the early 10th century:       Old West Norse dialect       Old East Norse dialect       Old Gutnish dialect       Crimean Gothic       Old English       Other Germanic languages with which Old Norse still retained some mutual intelligibility

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_language