Linguistic Intelligence: Meaning & 5 Tips on How to Develop It

Along with logical-mathematical intelligence, linguistic intelligence is at the core of measuring academic success. As the intelligence responsible for understanding and effectively combining words and sentences, it’s at the very center of our ability to think and communicate.

Considering its importance, our experts have carefully explored what linguistic intelligence entails, how it manifests itself, and to what extent it can be developed.

Today, we will dive into their discoveries.

Key Takeaways

• Linguistic intelligence allows you to effectively use verbal and written language, quickly pick up new languages, and intuitively understand linguistic rules and elements.
• People with high linguistic intelligence love reading, writing, and learning new languages and are great at giving speeches and explaining different concepts.
• Those with high linguistic intelligence are particularly successful writers, editors, translators, teachers, and lawyers.
• To improve your linguistic intelligence, you should read, do crosswords, take a foreign language course, or write journals and letters.

What Is Linguistic Intelligence?

What Is Linguistic Intelligence?

Linguistic intelligence is the ability to use words effectively in written and spoken form and quickly grasp the rules and particulars of a foreign language. As a result, they often enjoy reading, writing, wordplay, and learning new languages.

Howard Gardner was the first person to officially recognize the existence of verbal-linguistic intelligence—it was one of the original seven he included in his 1983 book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

Unlike existential or naturalistic intelligence, two of his most controversial intelligence types, verbal-linguistic intelligence was widely accepted by the general population and psychologists alike.

After all, psychology already recognized linguistic intelligence as an important factor in general intelligence. In fact, standard IQ tests typically include verbal tasks along with those focusing on logical-mathematical intelligence.

6 Traits of People With High Linguistic Intelligence

Traits of people with high linguistic intelligence include a love for anything related to words and languages, expressing themselves through writing, and excellent verbal skills.

Below, we delve deeper into all these linguistic intelligence characteristics to help you recognize whether you have them, too.

#1. They Love to Read

People with high linguistic intelligence feel most comfortable around words, and there’s hardly a place with more words than a book. That’s why they enjoy visiting bookstores and libraries and are frequently seen with a novel in their hands.

Although these people primarily read for pleasure, books help them pick up new words, further bolstering their linguistic intelligence.

In addition, they like to tackle novels with more complex language as well as those written in a foreign language. All this fulfills their thirst for interacting with language and learning new vocabulary.

#2. Writing Is Their Forte

Aside from ingesting words written by someone else, people with high linguistic intelligence enjoy using them to produce their own works.

In other words, they are often drawn to writing and poetry and tend to dabble in both at some point. What’s more, they exhibit a particular talent for such pursuits, which is quickly noticed by their peers, educators, and mentors.

That’s not to say everyone with high linguistic intelligence turns writing into a profession. For many, it remains a hobby that lets them freely express themselves. But many others become professional writers and poets, some even achieving great success.

#3. They Enjoy Learning New Languages

High linguistic intelligence allows you to quickly comprehend linguistic rules and easily pick up words and phrases. As a result, you become much faster at learning foreign languages, making impressive progress without excessive effort.

Typically, we enjoy things we’re good at, so it’s hardly a surprise that people with high linguistic intelligence love learning new languages.

To them, that’s not a stressful experience, nor do they view it as a chore. Instead, they enjoy making parallels between the languages they know, learning the underlying mechanisms of the new language, and experiencing a lightbulb moment when everything they’ve learned falls into place.

#4. They Excel at Presentations and Speeches

A person giving a speech in front of a lot of people

Presentations and speeches are hard to make and even harder to deliver effectively. However, people with high linguistic intelligence tend to struggle less with both aspects—their inherent understanding of the power of words helps them pick the right ones for maximum effect.

That’s why you’ll find many examples of high linguistic intelligence among public speakers, orators, and lawyers. All these professions require skillful use of words to get a certain point across or persuade listeners to take their side.

#5. They Are Great at Explaining

Do you ever feel you lack the right words to explain a certain concept even when you understand it? That happens to everyone, but people with high linguistic intelligence usually don’t have this problem as often as everyone else.

As a rule, they can quickly think of just the right words to explain a concept, often using analogies or metaphors to better illustrate their point. This skill often makes them excellent teachers, educators, and mentors.

#6. They Find Grammar Fun

Grammar is rarely anyone’s idea of fun—in fact, most language learners find grammar lessons boring and difficult to understand. Typically, they are far more eager to learn a language through games and conversation than through rules.

However, a person with high linguistic intelligence may have a completely different experience with grammar. They usually think it’s interesting to learn how a language functions and its precise rules, guidelines, and exceptions to rules.

As a result, they pick up grammar relatively quickly and may even spend time learning it on their own. And if they know more than one language, they often entertain themselves by comparing different grammar systems.

Best Career Choices for People With High Linguistic Intelligence

People with high linguistic intelligence thrive in careers relating to words and language, which allow them to effectively use their natural predispositions. Some of those are more creative, while others require an analytical approach, but in any case, language is the focus.

Here are some of the best jobs for people with high linguistic intelligence.

#1. Writer

A writer writing and showcasing his linguistic intelligence

Even when they don’t always get along, writers and words go hand in hand. That’s why high linguistic intelligence and excellent vocabulary are essential for every writer, whether they create fiction or non-fiction or write articles for online blogs.

But beyond vocabulary, writers need to have a good feel for language and understand how each sentence impacts the reader and connects to the text as a whole. The best writers can make you forget you’re reading, painting pictures with their words so vividly that you can see them unfold before your eyes.

And, once again, no one can do that better than a person with highly developed linguistic intelligence.

#2. Editor

A person using a drawing tablet

If we compare writing to building a house, writers are the ones who lay the foundation and structure, but editors make sure it all holds together. It’s their job to look for inconsistencies, flaws, and odd turns of phrase and polish the text to a high sheen.

So, just like writers, they need to have an excellent grasp of language and its components, as well as be aware of possible and impossible interactions between various elements. Linguistic intelligence plays a crucial role in all this, which is why people who possess it usually shine in this position.

#3. Translator

Dictionary page and translations can showcase linguistic intelligence

To become a translator, you need to excel not just in one language but in at least two. You have to be comfortable in both, able to spot subtle nuances, and think of ways to capture and transfer meanings to the target language in the most natural way possible.

Considering how difficult it can be to seamlessly switch between two languages, only those with high linguistic intelligence and superb cognitive flexibility can perform this job successfully.

And it’s not only about switching either—translators need to take an active interest in expanding their vocabulary and linguistic knowledge, which comes naturally to those with high linguistic intelligence.

#4. Teacher

A teacher giving a lecture to a class

While language teachers benefit from linguistic intelligence the most, other teachers surely make use of it as well. As mentioned before, linguistic intelligence helps you find the right words to explain various concepts—a crucial skill for an educator.

So, even if your subject has nothing to do with words, such as math, having developed linguistic intelligence can make you a more effective teacher. After all, you will still need to use language to explain theorems and solving strategies.

#5. Lawyer

A lawyer looking at multiple documents using his linguistic intelligence

Every great lawyer is essentially an excellent public speaker who can use language to sway the court’s opinion in favor of their client. In a surprising number of cases, linguistic nuances determine the outcome, so a lawyer must be able to spot them and take advantage whenever possible.

In addition, developing a compelling argument and counterargument requires mastery over words and a deep understanding of their impact. Therefore, only those with tremendous linguistic intelligence become successful lawyers.

3 Famous People With High Linguistic Intelligence

Famous people with high linguistic intelligence are typically writers and poets, as they usually deal with words. We’ll introduce you to the three whose legacies are so significant that they are unlikely to ever be forgotten.

#1. William Shakespeare

Did you know that the adjectives gloomy, majestic, and laughable were invented by Shakespeare? They aren’t the only ones either—according to estimates, he introduced 1,700 new words into the English language.

As if that doesn’t speak enough about his linguistic intelligence, the famous playwright wrote at least 37 plays, over 150 sonnets, and two volumes of poetry. Some of his works, such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, are timeless classics that continue to inspire all forms of art to this day.

#2. J. K. Rowling

Thanks to J. K. Rowling, millions of children around the world pray for an owl’s visit for their eleventh birthday so that they, too, can experience adventures in Hogwarts. But, more importantly, her best-selling series, Harry Potter, sparked a passion for books among the youngest readers.

Although the final installment of the series came out in 2007, Harry Potter’s cultural impact is still enormous. There’s hardly a person who hasn’t heard about it, which isn’t surprising considering the series has sold 600 million copies worldwide.

#3. Edgar Allan Poe

Every fan of mystery and the macabre is familiar with Edgar Allan Poe—after all, the 19th-century short story writer is the father of these genres. His stories about the uncanny, occult, and death inspired numerous writers who came after and continue to influence creators today.

But aside from being the master of horror stories and the pioneer of detective fiction, Poe was also a poet with an impressive sense of language. His poem “The Raven” is one of the best-known poems in the English-speaking world, often recognized for its musicality and powerful imagery.

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5 Tips to Improve Linguistic Intelligence

To improve your linguistic intelligence, you should focus on activities that force you to use words and actively think about language. That way, your language skills will grow even if verbal intelligence isn’t your forte.

Here are some activities to boost your linguistic intelligence:

• Reading. People with high linguistic intelligence tend to read a lot, so you should follow their example. That doesn’t mean you must read a book a week or force yourself when you don’t feel like it. But try to make it a habit to see an improvement in both your verbal and general intelligence.
• Solving crosswords. Crosswords are an excellent way to train your brain to think about words and learn new vocabulary. Even if you struggle to solve them at first, the more you do, the easier they will become.
• Journaling. Psychologists recommend journaling to practice mental hygiene and express your thoughts without fear of judgment. Aside from that, journaling is a fantastic language practice that will force you to search for the right words to perfectly capture your feelings.
• Learning a new language. Start learning a foreign language you’re interested in, even if you have no practical use for it. Try to make it an enjoyable experience, and don’t worry if you don’t progress as fast as you’d like to. As long as you’re learning, your linguistic intelligence will flourish.
• Write letters. Instead of sending texts, try something new and write a letter to your friends. An even better option is to find a penpal—that way, you get to practice a new language at the same time.

Final Thoughts

Although there is no specific test for linguistic intelligence, it’s usually easy to spot. Those who have it tend to excel at language-related jobs, show a talent for writing and public speaking, and know their way around words in general.

Considering how useful it can be to be good with words, it’s certainly worth trying to improve your linguistic intelligence. It’s not too difficult, either—reading a few pages every day should do the trick!