Harmony of Babel: Profiles of Famous Polyglots - 2nd Edition

Book excerpt: In the 1980s, the distinguished interpreter Kat- Lomb researched and interviewed polyglots to discover how they learned their languages. In 1988 she published her findings in "Harmony of Babel." The book became immediately popular in Dr. Lomb's native Hungary. In 2013 TESL-EJ of Berkeley was proud to publish the first English translation of "Harmony of Babel." The English edition attracted many readers worldwide and Dr. Lomb's fame spread. The success of the English translation prompted the translator and editorial team to prepare a new edition of "Harmony" featuring an introduction and the transcript of an interview Dr. Lomb did for Hungarian television in 1974. As with the first edition, readers will learn how some of the world's greatest polyglots think about, and use, their languages. Their views, grounded in real-world experience, will be of particular interest to linguaphiles who are seeking to supplement their theoretical knowledge of language learning.