Polyglotism - Notable Living Polyglots

Notable Living Polyglots

  • Ioannis Ikonomou (1964), chief translator at the European Parliament. He speaks 32 languages fluently.
  • Roy Hodgson, currently the England national team football manager, speaks fluent English, Norwegian, Swedish, German and Italian, as well as some Danish, French and Finnish, despite having a rhotacism speech impediment.
  • Dikembe Mutombo, former NBA player. He is able to speak English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and five African languages.
  • Claudio Castagnoli, currently known by his ring name Antonio Cesaro, a Swiss wrestler. He is fluent in 4 languages: English, Italian, German & French, and it has also become one of his gimmicks to say something in 4 languages, or to conduct interviews in a different language.
  • D.J. Mbenga Belgian basketball player who played in the NBA. He can speak French, Portuguese, English, Lingala, and Tshiluba.
  • Patrice Evra, French footballer for Manchester United. He can speak French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, but failed to pick up Korean

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