Disclaimer: These are all suggestions. Many people have multiple intelligences, some of which might cancel out each other’s deficiencies. Each intelligence type could be present but express itself differently in your character and behavior. We are not here to restrict but to guide. In the end, you can do whatever you enjoy.
They are the ones always having the right words, whether it’s holding a speech, giving a presentation, writing an article, or simply telling a story — no lacking when using words — linguistic intelligence. You know your favorite book, the way the story reveals and takes turns, the way each character is described and develops throughout; yes, that’s what happens when linguistically intelligent people work. Are you one of them? Let’s look at their strengths and weaknesses and find out!
1. Strengths:
Linguistically intelligent individuals possess excellent verbal communication skills. These are especially useful as words are our primary way of communicating. Realize the power that’s held when being specially gifted in that area — it’s the potential to reveal, lead, and heal with one’s verbal skills.
Besides verbal communication, writing consists of words as well, which leaves linguistically intelligent individuals with excellent writing skills. This is another way they can influence their surroundings. This also gives them the ability to prepare and present problems or solutions effectively through speeches or presentations.
Combining their verbal and written communication abilities for speeches and presentations isn’t the only way linguistically intelligent individuals benefit from their skill. The right use of words makes them great storytellers — in both written and spoken forms. The skill evolving around storytelling does not only include the right use of words but also involves creating structure, dramaturgy, (possibly) characters, and keeping a thread to hold the listener’s or reader’s attention.
We’ve mentioned these individuals’ talent in using words efficiently numerous times now, but where does this ability come from? Linguistically intelligent people have a very pronounced and profound understanding of syntax and semantics. This allows them to identify and form sentences with hidden meanings, addressing one’s subconscious. They are quick to analyze given texts and understand the true meaning and the writer’s intention behind them.
A linguistically intelligent individual might be able to easily learn new languages. This is due to their great understanding of the above, vocabulary, and grammar. Their ability to grasp a language’s structure enables them to learn quickly. Additionally, many individuals with high scores in linguistic intelligence enjoy the use of and learning new languages, which leads to them learning even more dedicatedly and, therefore, more easily.
2. Areas for Improvement:
As these individuals are so gifted with words, tasks requiring numerical skills could be more challenging. Numbers follow a specific logic, not leaving much room for interpretation. This is why they might clash with these individuals natural way of thinking, a way allowing them to freely create through the infinite possibilities to combine words.
Similarly, non-verbal communication, such as through drawings or dancing, could possibly be harder for these individuals to understand.
Do you recognize yourself or some parts of you? Then congratulations on identifying your or one of your intelligence types. With that, you’ve accomplished step one of your journey: determining your intelligence. But, even if that’s wonderful to hear, you may be asking, what should I do now? Let’s head over to step two: how to embrace your strengths and work on your weak spots.
3. How to Refine and Embrace Strengths:
To refine your strength, your number one tip is to practice your understanding of words daily. This is the foundation enabling you to use them efficiently. Without knowing their various meanings and understanding their possible use in different situations, you won’t be able to benefit from this type of intelligence. So, to do so, try the following:
First of all, practice writing daily. This does not mean you have to write a book every day. Write short stories. Here is my idea:
Write the same story for multiple days but adopt a different character’s perspective each time you restart.
This way, you’ll work on your character development, your storytelling skills, and your use of words, as your characters probably think, talk, and behave differently, forcing you to tell the same story in different ways.
If you feel extra creative or extra bored, try this exercise but use a language that is not your native one. This way, you’ll also enhance your vocabulary and grammar in your chosen language and work on your ability to learn languages. I wouldn’t recommend writing one story in different languages; this could get confusing, and you might resort to using the same words or sentence structures, just in a different language which defends the idea of describing one story in different ways.
To train your understanding of sentence structure, syntax, and semantics, read a variety of different genres. This way, you’ll encounter many different ways to present given circumstances. Your ability to understand language on various levels is extremely helpful in identifying lies and someone’s true intentions through their way of speaking – or even hiding your own.
Learning to prepare, present, and defend your opinion is a crucial part of using your intelligence type. To do so, engage in discussions or debates. This way, you’ll most effectively learn the above. Being able to defend your opinions is key in our lives, in business, and in work. Realize that to do so, you’ll need a profound understanding of the problems at hand, as well as the solutions you’re presenting.
Lastly, if you plan on working in a field requiring you to speak in front of others frequently, you might want to refine your skills by working with others from the beginning. Just as with any other type of intelligence, working with others is a great way to learn. Identify their speaking patterns, analyze and learn. Engage in writing workshops or public speaking clubs.
4. How to Work on Areas for Improvement:
Don’t worry, we won’t tell you to sit down and solve math problems to work on your numerical skills, at least not directly. To work on your logical skills, you could engage in activities like puzzles. These can be relaxing, and you might learn to keep an eye on the bigger picture.
If you want to work on your use of numbers, though, you can try solving math problems. This doesn’t mean you need to solve a high school math test, but you can try sudokus or other riddles involving numbers.
Lastly, you should consider looking into visual arts. In the end, writing and speaking are often considered forms of art; get to know the other ones. Additionally, becoming familiar with various levels of communication can lead to enhancing your primary way as well. Combine words and arts. Drawings can help you understand a story differently; music can help you enhance the meaning and message of your words, and so on. Realize that arts not involving words aren’t your enemy but are willing to work in cooperation with your skill if understood and used the right way.
Now that we’ve evaluated your strengths and areas for improvement, let’s apply all that to the real world. First of all, want to make money? Want to have fun? Here are some jobs and hobbies that align very well with this type of intelligence.
5. Jobs Aligning with This Intelligence Type:
Jobs that are compatible with this type of intelligence span a variety of fields because words, as already stated, are our primary communication system, which is therefore implied in every labor. A fitting employment could be writer, journalist, lawyer, teacher, or public speaker. Overall, anything that requires an excellent understanding of texts suits your type of intelligence very well.
6. Hobbies Aligning with This Intelligence Type:
Hobbies you might enjoy could be reading, allowing you to relax and escape into other worlds, writing and creating other worlds yourself, playing word games such as Scrabble or crossword puzzles, or participating in debates or a debating club.
Learning new languages can also be a hobby, a way to refine your skill, and is extremely useful in everyday life.
You might also enjoy listening to podcasts of any kind more than listening to music. This way, you’ll learn about the different themes in discussion and have a source of speech to analyze and follow.
Now you have a complete guide on what defines your intelligence, your strengths and areas you can improve, and the jobs and hobbies you can engage in — but what now? You can refine your strengths for what, a job you need to train for years? You can improve areas you might have some deficiencies in, but how is that helpful? What benefit does this knowledge provide here and now? Let’s have a look at the effect of linguistic intelligence in everyday life and its personal and societal impact.
7. Linguistic Intelligence in Everyday Life:
In everyday life, we use verbal and written communication constantly. You have no problem writing an email to your boss, drafting a report, or telling a story. You think these sound irrelevant? Are you sure? We are talking about everyday life, and these are things occurring constantly, nearly every day.
As a linguistically intelligent person, you might not realize it, but I know many people struggling with these tasks. This struggle takes up a lot of time and possibly leads to stress. You are able to effectively handle everyday situations involving correct wording and persuasion.
Additionally, you are probably a fast reader. Fast, in this case, is not only referring to your actual reading speed. Many people can read quickly, but there’s a difference between reading and understanding the page you read. You are quick to understand and decipher information given in written form.
Your skill in discussion is also very useful in everyday life. We as humans have very different opinions. This is important but leads to discussions being the way to decipher the “right one.”
8. Societal and Personal Impact:
Healing, inspiring, leading — remember that from the beginning? You have control over a very powerful human resource, capable of influencing others. This leads to your intelligence having enormous societal impact.
You are able to communicate and prevent misunderstandings, which fosters harmony and growth. You are able to enhance cultural exchange through your talent for learning languages and identifying their patterns. You can heal by providing motivational and comforting yet honest words. You can inspire by creating stories that transport people to magical worlds or by offering different perspectives on reality. All these abilities enable you to lead through words, helping to create harmonious surroundings.
But, thinking back on history, we know that this ability can also be used to manipulate, brainwash, and create discord. Be careful to use your gift with words to create harmony and identify those who misuse theirs.
On a personal level, strong abilities in linguistic intelligence will leave you with enhanced self-expression. You can present yourself in a favorable light, emphasizing your strengths while acknowledging your weaknesses in a confident and positive manner. This skill in self-expression, paired with the importance of communication, will provide you with nearly infinite career options as a linguistically intelligent individual.
Another advantage you have is the fact that effective use of words is often linked with high intelligence. Your clear communication, both written and verbal, allows you to articulate complex ideas, persuade others, and solve conflicts. This intellectual edge can open doors to both personal and professional opportunities.
Enhance your ability to move forward and help others. Communication is the foundation of societal life. You have the potential for effective advocacy, fostering growth and harmony.
Realize that you are an individual here to inspire others, gifted with the power to change and reveal, to help others escape and heal — the power necessary now and forever. A master of one of humanity’s most profound and essential concepts: communication.
Get out of the shadows, step onto your rostrum, and speak — speak loudly enough for all of us to hear you!