# Polls only: No discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 1, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642 "2021-11-01T18:21:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 6565
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/6565 "2026-02-11T22:42:00Z")
Inspired by [The disappearance of the polyglot](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-disappearance-of-the-polyglot/1027546) thread, how many languages do you have? For ‘have,’ I am going to define it as “read well enough to enjoy a novel without using a dictionary; listen well enough to enjoy an audiobook without a dictionary; speak well enough to have a productive conversation with a stranger over the phone.” For dead languages, you can count reading only. I’m leaving writing out of my definitions, and I don’t mind if people adjust for illiteracy (say, you speak Chinese fluently but don’t read it fluently or at all). _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/6565))_ Similarly, how many do you need in order to be a polyglot? _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/6565))_ --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642)._