Forums » Smalltalk » Synonym of Polyglotism

I do random thinking. I get curious, and, knowledge is power. This is something I have been trying to find the answer to forever.

Now, Wikipedia defines polyglotism as -
Polyglotism or polyglottism[1] is the ability to master, or the state of having mastered, multiple languages.

My question is; while a person may be considered a polyglot for having mastered multiple languages (we'll say 6 in this instance), what if they can understand more than they can speak?

Say...they can read Italian fluently. They can listen to someone speaking native or fluent Italian, and understand them perfectly. However, they are unable to speak or write the language themselves beyond a basic (if even) comprehension. I know it's weird, but, it's a thing.

In my mind, I am relating it this way (even if it's wrong, this is how my mind relates it, so please don't target me for that).

Polyglot - spoken languages. Spoken. Talk. Speech. Etc.
???? - hearing languages/reading languages.

If someone who speaks multiple languages is considered a polyglot, is there a word for someone who can understand them/read them, but not fluently speak them or write them? I thought there may be an actual word for it but, I'm not finding it. Polyglot just seems to cover the whole spectrum, but I'd really like to know if there is a more specific word.

Does anyone know?

I would think that multilingual would also be a synonym for polyglot, but is also more on the hearing/understanding side. However, multilingual is also more of a general thing as well that's easier to understand. If that helps.

I've contemplated that, but, it seems it more refers to the speaking/writing thing as well over hearing/reading