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Language aptitude and language awareness: Polyglot perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2021

Kenneth Hyltenstam
Kenneth Hyltenstam*
Affiliation:
Stockholm University
*
Email: kenneth.hyltenstam@biling.su.se
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Abstract

This paper discusses the notion of language aptitude as a factor contributing to successful language acquisition achievements in polyglots. The difficulty in distinguishing between what is, indeed, language aptitude and what is language awareness is the main focus of the paper. A polyglot is operationalized here as a person who, after puberty, (a) acquired/learned at least six new languages (L2s), (b) commands at least six L2s at an intermediate or advanced proficiency level, and (c) presently uses these languages relatively unimpededly in oral interaction. The article draws specifically on a controlled investigation of ten polyglots who were extensively interviewed and tested for language aptitude, motivation, language awareness, and use of language learning strategies. Results show well above average, often outstanding, aptitude scores and an immediate preference for explicit learning. It appears that the combination of strong motivation and high levels of language aptitude and language awareness is what makes polyglots unusually successful second language learners. This paper suggests that language aptitude is both a prerequisite for developing high levels of language awareness and (since the two concepts are partially overlapping), much of the dynamism sometimes ascribed to aptitude is indeed awareness.

Keywords

polyglotslanguage aptitude
Type
Research Article
Information
Annual Review of Applied Linguistics , Volume 41 , March 2021 , pp. 55 - 75
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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