Language Maintenance in Polyglots from a Dynamic Model of Multilingualism Perspective: Research Results

This paper aims at shedding light on two under-researched study fields: polyglotism and language maintenance in multilinguals from a psycholinguistic perspective. The theoretic lens for the latter is the holistic and Complex Dynamic System Theory perspective of the Dynamic Model of Multilingualism by Herdina & Jessner (2002). The issue of terminology around the terms multilingual, polyglot, and hyperpolyglot is outlined and a new definition for the term polyglot is offered. Terms like language lover and language enthusiast are also considered. A selection of the findings of the author’s doctoral thesis (2020) is presented. Data was gathered from participants in two international polyglot events in 2016 and 2017 with the help of a questionnaire and a semi-structured expert interview. Eighteen polyglots were questioned. Among them were renowned polyglots like Richard Simcott, Alexander Argüelles, Helen Abadzi, Luca Lampariello, and Elisa Polese. Voice is given to the participants of this study in the form of excerpts from the interviews. Ample proof that considerable language maintenance effort is necessary to counteract the phenomenon of language attrition if not enough time and energy are invested in the multilingual psycholinguistic system was found. The perceived importance that polyglots attach to language maintenance is described. An emergent property, namely smart strategy orchestration of language acquisition, language maintenance, and language management strategies, was identified in experienced language learners such as polyglots. For the first time, language maintenance strategies were classified. These are the strategies that aim to maximize language use and to minimize the language maintenance effort. Affective, metacognitive, and psychological factors were found to play a significant role in language maintenance. The focus was laid on the love for languages and on motivation as the most impactful factors.