Which language is the most descriptive ?

Answer 1

After reading the previous answers, I thought I should chime in. I have a degree in Linguistics, and I thought I would explain what the common ideas about descriptiveness is in my field.

I guess, after reading the question, I should ask what do you mean by the most descriptive? If you mean simply which language has the most words, then that is actually English hands down. English has borrowed extreme amounts of words and even grammar from other languages throughout its history, which is one of the reasons why English seems to be so confusing. This built a huge vocabulary for use to draw from. However, if you actually mean which language can describe concepts better than other languages, the answer is none. There is no language that is more descripitive or more primative than any other language.

English and the romance langauges are full of adjectives which means we can easily describe objects. Greek has an amazing verbal system where two verbs could be so drastically different in Greek, but have small nuance differences in English that we can barely comprehend. Japanese also uses numerous amounts of onomonpoetic words as adverbs that can be used to express slight differences between verbs where in English we would need to use a whole phrase. Some languages have many more distiction between colors than we do in English, where some languages only have two color distictions. Swahili has a classifier system (similar to the gender idea of the Spanish La and El) where simply by using one of the 16 classifiers it is possible to tell, size, shape, animacy, and numerous other characteristics of the individual word.

In conclusion, it is not possible to say what language is the most descriptive because every language has areas where it is more descriptive, but also areas where they are lacking in comparison.

Answer 2

Descriptive Language

Answer 3

Most Descriptive Words

Answer 4

any language which has many verbs.. Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian.... These languages are most descriptive and proper...

The English Language is a very confused language.. It has so many rules...and more rules which contradict the previous rule... It's really a whorafied language whether people want to admit it or not... That is a fact..

Answer 5

When I read this question I thought it was a trick question. After reading some of the answers I'm not so sure anymore. Anyway, my answer to the question "Which language is the most descriptive" would be: SIGN LANGUAGE

Answer 6

In May 2005 a study of all the versions of the English language was published. The total number of words in English 866,500. There are more words in English than any other language.

But does it make it more descriptive than other languages? In fact English was one word for love...I love you, I love my computer, I love my girlfriend, I love my children, I love pizza.

So the real answer depends on the situation and what you are describing. Spanish has many different words for beautiful and Chinese is very exact in its use of words making it possible to express a complicated concept in a few words and very little grammar.

Answer 7

If I'm not mistaken that would be Spanish, the Portuguese language is a dialect of Spanish, the French and Italian are not too descriptive. Literacy and first language teaching in schools is traditionally prescriptive. Both educators and parents often agree that mastery of a prestige variety of the language is one of the goals of education..☺

Answer 8

Spanish, Portuguese, French and the rest of the Romance languages. There are separate verbs for ever type of situation. It can be really confusing sometimes.

Answer 9

Proper English. AmeriKan used to be the most descriptive but it has been abused and filled with half words and poor grammar that it no longer can be used when you need to describe something.

When I was still with the gubbernemtn, we did the socializing in French and the technical papers in English.

Answer 10

Chinese,hebrew, french---and of course English!

I disagree with several of the posters on here who have stated that English has the most words---that is not correct! It is the Chinese language which has the most words--each caricature represents a 1000 words...so in reality English is a far cry from getting to that point :)