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What's (Y)Our Linguistic Repertoire? With Poll. [1]
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Date: 2025-07-25
Hello there again. I’ve posted diaries asking about our political identification, levels of formal education, and religious affiliation, and some other things. I like these kinds of diaries because they offer glimpses from a certain birds-eye-view about who we are as a community. So, I find it informative, yes, but also a great discussion starter. It’s not just about stats; it’s about stories.
Anyways, this time round: How many languages do you speak and at what level of fluency? That second part can get a bit dicey to tease out, because, as my soon-to-be-graduate-school-studying-linguistics niece likes to say, “5th graders are fluent, but they can’t understand To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Given that “All models are wrong, but some are useful,” as far as the poll goes, I make use of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR for short. It’s the go-to system across Europe (and increasingly worldwide) for describing language proficiency. Here’s how it works:
A1 – Beginner Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases. Can introduce themselves and ask/answer simple questions.
A2 – Elementary Can understand frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance. Can communicate in simple, routine tasks.
B1 – Intermediate Can deal with most situations while traveling. Can produce simple connected text on familiar topics and describe experiences and events.
B2 – Upper Intermediate Can interact with native speakers fluently. Can understand the main ideas of complex text and express opinions clearly.
C1 – Advanced Can use language effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects.
C2 – Proficient (Mastery) Can understand virtually everything heard or read. Can express themselves precisely, even in more nuanced or abstract scenarios.
(And I’’ll add)
N — Native
Using this paradigm, I am N in (American) English, C2 in Legalese, C1 in Japanese, B1.5 in German, A2 in Hebrew and French, and A1 in Spanish. I’m not sure what truely counts as “I can speak ______”, but In the CEFR system, B1 is generally considered the minimum level at which someone can say they “speak” a language in a functional sense.
So, my answer to the poll is four. I can speak English, Legalese, Kansai Japanese and Standard or High German. How do dialects fit into this CEFR scheme? They don’t. Dialects don’t count as separate languages. But, I tell you, listening to my neighbor from County Kerry makes me wonder about that. ;) So, I leave it to you to decide if you speak Geordie and RP (or “posh), or Chicano English and “Standard American” to count that as one or two languages. BUT, if you only speak one dialect that counts as one!
That’s about it. What about you? I invite you to take the poll, and would love to hear about what languages you speak, what ones you tried to learn, and anything and all things about your experience with language.
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