Hyperpolyglots and cross-linguistic influence: a study of cognitive and metalinguistic strategies

Abstract

This study investigates the cognitive strategies and metalinguistic awareness employed by hyperpolyglots—defined here as individuals fluent in six or more languages—to navigate cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the context of language learning. While interest in multilingualism and language transfer has grown, empirical research focusing specifically on hyperpolyglots remains scarce. Addressing this gap, the study examines how these individuals manage CLI across linguistically diverse repertoires, encompassing both closely related and typologically distant languages. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and a detailed language background questionnaire from twenty hyperpolyglot participants. The analysis revealed that hyperpolyglots draw on sophisticated cognitive strategies, including compartmentalization of languages and selective activation, to regulate both facilitative and interfering transfer effects. Additionally, they exhibited heightened metalinguistic awareness, which enabled them to distinguish between languages and minimise interference. This study concludes that hyperpolyglots’ unique linguistic and cognitive abilities provide important insights into the limits of language learning, highlighting the potential benefits of extensive language knowledge and offering a new perspective on the dynamics of multilingualism. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of CLI, cognitive control, and metalinguistic awareness in multilingual individuals.