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Interview with

Ewa Duerr

Name: Ewa (Stormowska) Duerr
Nationality or Ethnicity: Polish (by birth), German (by naturalization)
Where do you live?: United States, California (at the time of this interview!).
Just bear in mind that I lived and worked across 6 continents over the past 20 years so you are better off checking on my LinkedIn profile for the latest on where to find me!
Languages: Polish, German, Spanish, English, Italian, French, Russian (and more to come!)

Member since:

2025-01-27

1. What’s your story? How did you get into all these languages?

I grew up in Poland in a family of musicians and started my professional career as a first violinist in the orchestra. Background in music gave me a fantastic opportunity to travel around the world since I was 7 - and that sparked my interest in understanding various languages and other cultures.

Interestingly, I never learnt the language from the “classroom” (with exception of English which was required at school). In fact, I was already a teenager once I learnt French, Spanish, German or Italian and I never “studied” them truly at school or in the classroom - in contrast, I just immersed myself into the country, culture or made friends (or boyfriends!) abroad! To the credit of my (German) husband, Martin Duerr, I learnt German language from him! He definitely had the patience to take me from zero to fluency in his native language. Danke, Martin!

In a nutshell, my advice to those reading those lines: learn like a baby who starts understanding and speaking their first mother language - just immerse yourself in a language and culture. Sooner or later you will become a master.


2. People say the need for learning languages will disappear with the rise of Artificial Intelligence - is that true?

I changed a career throughout my life many times - from being a first violinist in the orchestra, through working as a business consultant, start-up entrepreneur to becoming a product leader in artificial intelligence technology. I also had a chance to live and work across 6 out 7 continents of this world over the past 20 years (with exception of Antarctica!). As a product leader in artificial intelligence working currently on AI-enabled translation, speech recognition and (generative) AI-enabled learning, I am convinced that (generative) AI and technology will foster the communication between people speaking different languages but never will replace the need for learning a new language!

AI technology is helping people speaking various languages in any international setting communicate much more easily. However, AI-enabled translation definitely does not mean they will fully “understand” each other in a deeper sense - learning languages is so much more than just “translating the words” from one language to the other. Learning the language is a way to learn how to understand the people from the country and/or region speaking that language, an opportunity to immerse yourself into their traditions, history and culture.

Build the bridges by learning a new language, and AI can help you become a hyperpolyglot sooner than you think!


3. What are some languages you’d like to learn in the future?

Japanese. I am also fascinated by the beauty and complexity of the Japanese language(s) with Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana used differently for different reasons and in different settings. That strengthens my desire to understand their origins, growth and use depending on the context and form - which further enriches Japanese traditions, culture, customs, literature and influences people’s behaviours in personal and professional settings until today.


4. So let’s be honest, what’s the most beautiful language?

Language is a reflection of people’s history, culture, traditions, desires, behaviours and many more! So trying to answer this question is for me similar to answering the question - which “nation” or “country” is the most beautiful? I cannot say because diversity is what’s so beautiful!

In a nutshell, my advice is: if you learn a new language and culture, be open to discover new things - don’t be blind - the “rainbow” is what’s so beautiful!


5. What’s the greatest pleasure you get from speaking so many languages?

Connection to culture and people. Inspiration for my own development, fostering my creativity.

People often say that my work in AI poses a risk to the hyperpolyglot community as they claim the need for learning a new language will disappear. My answer to that: The opposite is true!

Artificial intelligence is a way to foster and facilitate the communication between people with the ease and quality of translation, speech recognition and technology-enabled learning. Technology and artificial intelligence provide an opportunity for new ways of communicating, learning and acquiring your hyperpolyglot skills. However, bear in mind that hyperpolyglots don’t only learn to translate - we learn to deeply understand the culture, traditions, history and find connection to people much more easily. And that’s the most enriching and fun part of being a hyperpolyglot!


6. Some people say the world is really just going to have a few languages left in a 100 years, do you think this is really true?

Reformulating this question and taking it to the extreme one could argue that having all people speaking the same ONE language is "practical" as it would allow them to communicate more easily (supposedly!?). But this argument only sounds "practical" to those who speak one language themselves and resist learning another one. Hyperpolyglots know that the reality is that any language is deeply embedded into the culture, nation, region, traditions and behaviours, and is embodied by the people who speak it. And that diversity will not disappear in 100 years!


7. What is your message to young (and not so young) people out there who are interested in studying multiple languages?

As a leader in Artificial Intelligence technology and, at the same time, a hyperpolyglot with an experience of living and working in very many places of this world, I am encouraged by the opportunities AI can bring to foster the communication between people speaking different languages. However, it will not replace the need for growing our hyperpolyglot community.

Hyperpolyglots are not “translating machines” - we learn to more deeply understand the culture, traditions, history and find connection to people much more easily. Mastering a new language is like discovering a new world and learning more about yourself. You will be inspired, more curious and creative, and have so much fun in the meantime!

The International Association of Hyperpolyglots - HYPIA. (c) 2025

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