in any way controversial (sorry)
It isn’t controversial, Steve. There isn’t any issue with using the word “linguist” according to its primary dictionary definition.
Nevertheless, it might be good tactics to avoid opening up a second front with creeps like Clugston? (You could do this quite easily by simply calling yourself a “polyglot”…)
I have a degree in Linguistics. I speak many languages. I earn a living as a translator, and sometimes as a language teacher. Yet, often times, I’m not sure whether I should call myself a linguist or not. Obviously, you use that term a LOT more liberally than I would.
Yes, polyglots are linguists according to English dictionaries, so strictly speaking, you are not mistaken. But you no doubt recognize that you use the term linguist in a way most people would not. Quoting the dictionary is one thing; recognizing usage is another.
I also remember that you said something along the lines of “at least in English” in one of your videos, so I assume you are aware that the definition of linguist is not that liberal in most other languages. Le Petit Robert, for instance, says: “linguiste: Spécialiste en linguistique”.
You say you don’t understand the controversy, but I don’t understand why you insist on using linguist rather than polyglot, despite all the controversy. It’s your prerogative, but the controversy over that word won’t die anytime soon.
In the Czech Language, we use the work “lingvista” which is a linguist :)) and we usualy use it for someone who is studying (or studied) linguistics at university.On other side, Czech people are not multilingual, so we do not use this term for someone who can speak many languages. In the czech dictionary, there is a deffinition that a linguist is:
someone who is a specialist in linguistics;
someone who knows many languages
so according these phrases, Steve is someone who knows many languages and I can call him “lingvista” in the Czech language 
"But you no doubt recognize that you use the term linguist in a way most people would not. Quoting the dictionary is one thing; recognizing usage is another. "
The dictionary recignuzes usage. What makes you think that my use of “linguist” is controversial with anyone other than the minority of people who are into linguistics, or even know what it is.
This usage of the word is peculiar to English so the French reference is irrelevant. However, I like the idea that linguist means someone who speaks many languages, and hope that this will spread to other languages. There are far more linguists and potential linguists in this sense, than there are people interested in linguistics. I stuck with this word in the translation of my book. Violinist, optimist, rightist, leftist, linguist.
Most English speakers have never heard the word “polyglot” and do not know what it means.
“Most English speakers have never heard the word “polyglot” and do not know what it means.”
Huh…!?
You must be living right out in lumberjack country, Steve! 
I rephrase it. Most English speakers that I see in Canada or the US do not know what polyglot means. The UK may be different.
It’s like the word “professor” which depending on dictionary (and language) could mean any kind of teacher or a teacher of particularly high rank, holding a chair at a university (or similar).
In Sweden we had this martial arts teacher calling himself ‘professor’ “because it was common usage” among his peers in the States. Nobody but his students really “bought” it.
Don’t be surprised if the average man in the street (or Christophe Clugson) doesn’t agree with how you use the word “linguist”.
Jeff, man in the street where? Based on my experience, the man or woman in the street here, and probably throughout North America, has no idea what linguistics is, has not heard the word polyglot, and thinks that someone who speaks a few languages is quite the linguist. Sweden is no doubt different, and English is perhaps one of the few languages where linguist has this meaning, but it does, to the best of my knowledge.
Steve is absolutely right. In English the first dictionary definition of “linguist” is a polyglot, a language enthusiast, etc. I believe the word has, however, been increasingly hijacked by Clugston and his ilk over the last 50 years or so.
(As I said in an earlier post, you have to ask whether it’s really worth getting into a fight with these bums…)
Proof that it has the same usage in the UK… well kind…of…
James Bond: [Whilst being in bed with his Scandinavian language tutor] I always enjoyed learning a new tongue.
Moneypenny: You always were a cunning linguist, James.
– Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Man… Just watched Clugston’s latest video called “Steve Kaufman has a big problem”
Goes on and on about how Steve has no ability to learn / study undocumented languages…(???) He says that he wants to put a nail in the lingofile coffin….(Why??).
Is this guy NUTS? In my view many of us don’t intend to study undocumented languages….I hope his condition gets better… seems angry about all this…
Does this guy know that S. K. knows 11+ languages??? Does he realize how silly he looks??? I feel sorry for him (a little)… hmmm…
Yeah you’re right, Clugston seems to have a real problem - there is a kind of nutty anger to him.
If he really wants to make war on LingQ…well…it’s a bit like when Osama Bin Laden declared war on Uncle Sam - everybody knew exactly how it was going to end! ;-D
What’s the point in even posting links to these videos here? If ordinary language learners are so beneath his intellectual heights, why does he create and post videos on YouTube? If he cares about us little people at all, he should surely document his feelings in a lofty academic treatise that none of us will understand.
Seriously, what is an “undocumented language”? Are people supposed to prove their language skills now by trekking into the jungles of Papua New Guinea in search of an isolated tribe whose language has never before been recorded, and then learn it fluently (in 3 months, naturally) and return to “civilization” having written a grammar book documenting rare verb forms?
Now that’s serious intellectual language study.
I almost wet myself when Clugston said…
“all of you linguafiles are erroneously basing things off a text-driven dead language method”
“ok linguafiles you have been proven once again to have no language skills, and your diminished by real linguist”
Is this guy promoting something or has a website?, It seems absolute bull otherwise. I’m guessing no amount of arguing with him will convince him otherwise.
Reminds me a little bit of computer programmers. There are people in university who know all about programming languages, the ins and outs of computers, etc… but when you put them into a job some don’t have a clue (I’m saying some people, not all of them). The person who actually uses the language and has real world experience is the person I’d rather listen to, get advice from and respect, rather than some guy who simply has a degree.
Wow, just sat through his latest video. What a total meathead, sounds like a little baby spitting his dummy out. He’s also disabled the ratings on his videos and added moderation, hmmm I wonder why 
I think a lot of people disliked his first video. So he disabled the ratings, and he never turned it on for his later videos.
What is the background if this guy anyway, apart from owning a lot of linguist books? He is a martial art teacher right?
I feel that he just wants to pick some fights. You can tell from his third video that he is trying to provoke someone to response.
In my view, he is ALG method extremist. That’s why he doesn’t like written material. However this is just my opinion.
“Jeff, man in the street where? Based on my experience, the man or woman in the street here, and probably throughout North America, has no idea what linguistics is, has not heard the word polyglot, and thinks that someone who speaks a few languages is quite the linguist. Sweden is no doubt different, and English is perhaps one of the few languages where linguist has this meaning, but it does, to the best of my knowledge.”
Obviously not all native English speakers agree with your usage of the word even though the dictionary may have it as the #1 definition.
As soon as you say you’re something - a linguist/professor/musician/athlete…fluent speaker - except to hear from people who don’t agree with you. As simple as that.