hi.
i recreated my profile.i used to post as dusheti before
and now i use my real name(sorry)
i myself speak 3 languages but not fluently.
i make lots of mistakes in english.but i am tring to make it better by
studing,posting and speaking here
and i dont understand why it is not possible to speak 3 languages fluently.(by 40 percent)
I think OP is overstating the significance of the survey. I'm sure it was intended as a bit of fun rather than as a serious, empirical study (the 'One...barely. I'm struggling' category tells us that, unless we're genuinely expecting a number of respondents who have Specific Language Impairment, for example).
If you are talking about countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium or Norway, then yes. If you are talking about Asia, South America or Africa, then no.
It's not at all uncommon to meet people from Asia (e.g. India) or Africa (e.g. DRC) who have a degree of fluency (whatever that means) in at least three languages. Many Indians, for example, speak at least one regional language, plus Hindi and English. Many Africans also speak their country's national language, their own regional/tribal language, plus other (contact) languages. Multilingualism is the norm in many parts of the world, as has already been indicated above.
"I'm sure it was intended as a bit of fun"
If your idea of fun is completing an online poll, then yes.
@archila
I'm not saying it is not possible. I'm saying it is highly unlikely.
Warning: threadjack.
Specific Language Impairment
# 11 What is this? Does it mean that someone can be impaired in a specific language and not in another? And what kind of impairment would it be?
Over 450 answered the poll
Not exactly, there were 450 answers to the poll. Some people around here have multiple handles and may have voted early and often. Some people may (gasp!) have not been truthful.
I can't imagine what else the survey would be for other then fun. Maybe there's a TT language conspiracy? What would one do with that type of info?
I believe specific language disorder is referring to people who have difficulty communicating verbally (in a medical sense).
It's usually called Specific language impairment. It's a developmental disorder-- the development of the ability to use or understand oral language is impaired. "Children with this disorder talk much later than other children, and they struggle with many basic concepts in language. Specific language disorder can impair a child's ability to understand language, and a child's ability to communicate. "
It affects around 5% of English-language children. It is not associated with things like neurological damage, mental retardation, or hearing loss, but there seems to be a genetic component.
If you define the term "fluently" rather loosely, I actually believe the poll. It's not uncommon at all to speak three languages fluently - I consider myself being one of them, being fluent in Slovenian, English and German (but I'm not fluent in French, although I can read books and can follow a conversation).
I would, however, be interested if there really are 9 posters, who speak six or more languages. Fluently!
Anyone around?