Babel No More

I just finished a new book on polyglots called Babel No More - The Search for the World's Most Extraordinary Language Learners by Michael Erard. Actually, it's about hyperpolyglots, people who learn many, many languages or are fluent in at least six, not just who learn a few languages or bits and pieces. I know, most people are having a hard enough time just trying to learn one new language!

He focuses a lot on the brain and genetic factors and what research may reveal about how people learn languages, particulary those exceptional language learners. The whole book is framed around the search for legendary language learners like Mezzofanti or modern day equivalents, and what they can tell us about how they do what they do. One of the things about this book that most interested me was his interviews with Professor Alexander Arguelles, one of my 'language learning heroes,' as well as encounters with other hyperpoyglots.

If you are interested in the language learning process, second language acquisition or polyglots, then this book may very well interest you. The website www.BabelNoMore.com has more information.