Emil Krebs

Emil Krebs (1867–1930) was a German diplomat and interpreter renowned for his command of dozens of languages. His career combined diplomatic service in China with sustained study of languages from around the world.

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Wilhelm II: Wilhelm II was German emperor from 1888 until his abdication in 1918. Krebs entered diplomatic service during Wilhelm II’s reign and served Germany abroad.
Language acquisition: Language acquisition is the process by which people develop the ability to understand and use a language. Krebs’s language learning is an unusually broad case of acquiring additional languages.
Beijing: Beijing is the capital of China and a major political and cultural center. Krebs served as a German diplomat in Beijing during the late Qing period.
Linguistic talent: Linguistic talent is unusual aptitude for learning, processing, or using language. Krebs’s reputation is often presented as evidence of unusually strong linguistic aptitude.
German Empire: The German Empire was a federal state that existed from 1871 to 1918. Krebs’s diplomatic career began within this state’s foreign service.
Multilingualism: Multilingualism is the ability or practice of using more than one language. Krebs’s reputation rests on using an exceptional number of languages.
Siege of the Legations: The Siege of the Legations was the 55-day siege of foreign diplomatic compounds in Beijing in 1900. Krebs was in Beijing during the Boxer crisis and the siege of foreign legations.
Language documentation: Language documentation is the systematic recording and description of languages and their use. Krebs’s language notes connect individual study with the preservation of linguistic information.
German Foreign Office: The German Foreign Office is the federal ministry responsible for Germany’s foreign relations. Its diplomatic service employed Krebs and sent him to China.
Polyglot: A polyglot is a person who can use multiple languages. This is the familiar description of Krebs, though it does not specify proficiency levels.