What is the difference between a “linguist” and a “polyglot”?
(C. Sreeram, Palakol, West Godavari, Dist) I read somewhere that a linguist is someone who has mastered every tongue (language) except his wife’s! Actually, a linguist is someone who studies languages. He is usually interested in understanding how a language works. He is keen on figuring out the rules of the language, rather than in learning how to use the language. A linguist may or may not have the ability to speak several languages. A polyglot, on the other hand, has the ability to speak several languages. He may not be able to tell you anything about the rules of the various languages he knows, but he will be able to use them quite effortlessly in order to communicate. A linguist, on the other hand, will be able to provide you with a great deal of information about the rules of a language. There are many polyglots in India. A linguist can be a polyglot, but a polyglot need not be a linguist. S.
