This is my question for the non-English speaker. What
does the English language sound like to you. How does it
sound to you? Is it harsh, soft, mincing, crackling? How would
you describe it? Plus, How does it compare with other
languages?
2007-07-17 13:39:11 · 9 answers · asked by Sapphire-by-the-sea 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
o.k. let me correct myself, this question is adressed to those whose native language is not english, but are fluent in the english language
2007-07-17 14:04:45 · update #1
Sorry if you don't like the answer, but to most Continentals Standard Englisch sounds as if somebody slightly drunk is trying to speak poperly after having lost their dentures.
That's the people who learned English themselves. If you don't understand anything at all, it reminds you of ducks and frogs.
I grew up bilingually, but with the Irish version of English, and RP has no charms for me. I prefer the Scottish and even the Welsh accents to the English ones. The American accents, apart from the extreme Southern and Western ones seem to be easier on the ear, too.
2007-07-18 00:15:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
What an interesting question!! my husband is German, and holidaying in Germany a few years ago, I found the language very harsh and gutteral, very much a masculine sounding language, while in France, I found the language to be very smooth and beautiful, very soft and feminine, not that I could understand either of them LOL.
SO yes, I would love to know the answer to your question too.
To me, as an australian, (I hate the really exaggerated ocker accent) english seems to be the only language with actual separate words, and I guess that everyone feels the same about their own language.
2007-07-17 14:24:25 · answer #2 · answered by maggie rose 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a Chinese, i guess english is kinda smooth but monotonus
Especially, during lectures, the droning really makes me sleepy.
As mandarin has the different intonation of the same word, its more melodic as compared to English. However, Chinese can come across as harsh or even coarse, especially the dialects
2007-07-17 16:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by Dumbguy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For me as native Russian when I just began studying it (in my 5th grade of a small town school) it sounded like the...
...LANGUAGE of FROGS.
Russian is much more melodic phonetically.
French, Spanish, or Italian speakers will find it easier to pronounce than English.
2007-07-17 14:30:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its a good question and I have wondered about it myself. Like we English speakers know that German sounds kind of harsh compared to the melodic flow of French or Spanish. I guess English probably sounds pretty...Germanic, like kind of gutteral, to non-English speakers, but thats just a guess. I will be watching for answers. Good question, thanks for asking it.
2007-07-17 13:49:33 · answer #5 · answered by jxt299 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
definitely the most useful and popular language coz it's easy to learn. even u're not gd at grammar, u can still communicate wit others in many countries. It is soft coz the pronounication is great and, i guess logical comparing wit Japs, korean or any other lang. as long as you know the 26 letters, you basically can guess how to pronounce some words. the major prob is accent. it makes eng weird
2007-07-17 13:49:28 · answer #6 · answered by Roy K 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I'd like to know! I'm half British and half Russian & raised in the states! The only language I know is English (learning Spanish).
2007-07-17 13:48:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Pardon me.. how would a non-english speaker answer your qn when he doesnt know the language - English?
2007-07-17 13:47:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
it sound like you lady-sal an vinigar
2007-07-17 13:47:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋