Indian teenage boy speaks, writes and reads 400 languages
Nineteen-year-old Indian Muslim boy, Mahmood Akram, has astonished the world with his linguistic abilities and achieved what many consider impossible.
With the ability to write, read and type in 400 languages and speak 46 fluently, the Chennai-based Muslim teenager's journey into languages began at an early age, guided by his father, Shilbee Mozhippriyan, who himself speaks 16 languages, according to media reports.
The young Indian boy believes English isn't enough for global communication & wants to inspire people of Tamil Nadiu to learn more languages.
Akram's extraordinary talent became evident when he learned the English alphabet in just six days and Tamil's 299-character script in three weeks—a feat that typically takes months.
Encouraged by his father, a linguistics expert, he continued to explore languages, surpassing even his mentor's knowledge by the age of six.
At just eight years old, Akram set a world record as the youngest multilingual typist. By 12, he had impressed German linguists by demonstrating fluency in 400 languages, securing another world record.
'I had struggled because I did not know the language of a particular state or country when I had to move to places like Israel, Spain, due to my job,' shares Shilbee, who also owns a doctorate in cognitive psychology among other degrees.
Akram's journey continues to inspire linguists, educators, and students worldwide, proving that dedication and passion can break barriers in education and learning.
His passion for languages led him beyond conventional schooling. Unable to find suitable programmes in India, he pursued online studies through an Israeli institution, focusing on Arabic, Spanish, French, and Hebrew.
Inspired by his growing social media following, Akram began teaching languages at 14 through YouTube.
By 2024, he had conducted language workshops in Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia, sharing his expertise with students worldwide.
He is pursuing a BA in English Literature and a BSc in Animation at Chennai's Alagappa University while also studying linguistics at the UK's Open University.
Despite his academic commitments, he remains dedicated to refining his fluency across languages.
As Akram recalls, 'My journey started at the age of four.' 'My parents began teaching me Tamil and English alphabets, and I mastered the English alphabet in six days. They were astonished.' His aptitude didn't stop there. He learnt the 299 alphabets of Tamil in just three weeks, a task that typically takes months.
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