PERSONAL STORIES - Europe's Most Polyglot Man!

Europe's most polyglot man, is Greek!

Mr. Ioannis Economou (source:athensnews.gr).

 

In particular, Mr. Ioannis Economou, is the most polyglot man in Europe, as he speaks 32 languages!

Going backwards, Mr. Economou began learning his first foreign language (English) at the age of 6. 

According to an interview given by him to Athensnews.gr, he liked it so much that he continued learning German and Italian. As time went by, one language followed the other (among which Russian, Turkish, Arabic and Chinese), reaching the total of 32 (!).

Since 2002, Mr. Ioannis Economou has been working as a translator in the European Commission in Brussels. Being the only knowing Chinese within the European Commision, he is the only  translator trusted by the EC not only to translate classified Chinese documents but represent the European Commission in China.

Short Bio

Mr. Ioannis Economou was born in Irakleio, Crete in 1964. He studied linguistics at the University of Thessaloniki followed by a Master's Degree (MA) in Middle Eastern languages and cultures at Columbia University in the United States, and a PhD in Indo-European linguistics at Harvard University. 

His studies included courses in Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Avestan, Old Persian, Middle Iranian languages, Classical Armenian, Gothic, Pali, Old Church Slavonic, Hittite, Luwian, Oscan, Umbrian and Irish. 

Translated & Edited by Christiana Vellianiti

Sources: newsbomb.gr / athensnews.gr