Ioannis Ikonomou Greek translator, polyglot Country: Greece

1. Biography of Ioannis Iconom
2. Early Language Acquisition
3. Language and Culture
4. Translation Career

Biography of Ioannis Iconom

Ioannis Iconom is a Greek translator and polyglot who began studying foreign languages at a very young age. He mastered English at the age of 5 and German at the age of 7. His desire to understand the speech of numerous tourists visiting Crete motivated him to study foreign languages. It is quite rare to find professionals who can work with at least five languages, as noted by Johann J. Amkreutz, the chairman of the Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators. However, for Ioannis Iconom, who currently fluently speaks 32 languages, this is a long surpassed milestone.

Early Language Acquisition

Iconom started learning foreign languages at a very young age, mastering English at 5 and German at 7. His interest in understanding the speech of the many tourists visiting Crete led him to study other languages at an incredible speed. Besides popular languages like German, English, and Portuguese, Iconom also learned more specific languages such as Belarusian and Azerbaijani. Furthermore, Iconom conquered languages that have long disappeared from common use, such as Latin, Sanskrit, and Gothic.

Language and Culture

Iconom's study of a new foreign language always accompanies an exploration of the culture and customs of the people who speak it. This approach greatly aids his mastery of previously unfamiliar dialects. Foreign languages themselves do not hold much interest for Iconom; as a Greek translator, he is more fascinated by the cultural treasures that can only be fully appreciated by knowing the language that gave birth to them.

Translation Career

Currently, Ioannis Iconom works as a translator for the European Commission in Brussels. He initially worked as an interpreter for conferences and later moved on to translating legal texts. His exceptional ability as a legal translator, capable of understanding Azerbaijani, Portuguese, and Belarusian, is truly remarkable. Iconom's intellectual prowess has also earned him a place in Mensa, a prestigious international society for individuals with high IQ scores.