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Nona the brit Posted 20 years ago
Culture
What does English sound like?
What does English sound like when you don't yet speak the language? I know that other languages have a certain 'sound' to me when I don't speak them. I can recognise certain other languages from this even though I don't understand them at all. For example, I could pick out Italian, or German, and only this evening I commented that, to me, Welsh sounds like English being played in reverse! (no offense to any welsh speakers). The Scandinavian languages have a very distinctive 'sound' to me, along with African languages. Other areas of the world also have distinctive qualities to their languages.
So, what did English sound like to you before you learned to speak it. If, as a non-English speaker, you had to make up a sort of nonsense 'English' talk what sounds would you make?
So, what did English sound like to you before you learned to speak it. If, as a non-English speaker, you had to make up a sort of nonsense 'English' talk what sounds would you make?
Top answer
Hello, Nona, I've been trying to recall how English sounded to me when I didn't understand it at all but it's been quite hard because I started learning it many years ago. But I vaguely remember that I had a feeling that English speakers spoke with something in their mouth - like a pebble or some food. And both of your "th" consonants sounded like some sort of speech impediment to me.
- Hello, Nona, I've been trying to recall how English sounded to me when I didn't understand it at all but it's been quite hard because I started learning it many years ago.
- But I vaguely remember that I had a feeling that English speakers spoke with something in their mouth - like a pebble or some food.
- And both of your "th" consonants sounded like some sort of speech impediment to me.
- ) sound to you?
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11 Answers
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Hello, Nona,
I've been trying to recall how English sounded to me when I didn't understand it at all but it's been quite hard because I started learning it many years ago. But I vaguely remember that I had a feeling that English speakers spoke with something in their mouth - like a pebble or some food. And both of your "th" consonants sounded like some sort of speech impediment to me.
I've been trying to recall how English sounded to me when I didn't understand it at all but it's been quite hard because I started learning it many years ago. But I vaguely remember that I had a feeling that English speakers spoke with something in their mouth - like a pebble or some food. And both of your "th" consonants sounded like some sort of speech impediment to me.
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Well, for me it souns good. It has its melody and it is really nice to hear. I can also say that American English seems to me a little bit freindlier than British English, which sounds official. But it is only my opinion. On the other hand, the Americans talk more loudly than the British and somebody can feel uncomfortable with it. But all in all both sounds nice.
Slavonic languages - it
Slavonic languages - it
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Hi Nona. We speak English at home even though our mother tongue is an Indian language. So frankly, I cannot remember the time when English, as a language, was new to me. Among the accents, I have always had an affinity for the American accent. The British accent comes across as very rigid and stern (no offence intended here).
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Hmn... I can't remember how it sounds I was to young when I learned the first english word ^^'
But my former teacher said (she was from Ireland), that a german who stutters, can't enunciate the S correct (S-Fehler) and has problems with the R (rollendes R) has the perfect premies for speaking english as the natives do.
Hope I could help.
But my former teacher said (she was from Ireland), that a german who stutters, can't enunciate the S correct (S-Fehler) and has problems with the R (rollendes R) has the perfect premies for speaking english as the natives do.
Hope I could help.
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I don't really speak english, but I understand a lot!. When I didn't, It sounded like "washi washi" lol. It was like a lot of shshsh sounds
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I was talking with a Dutch guy on the train the other day and he said 'I have a love hate relationship with Dutch, it has harsh sounds and none of the melody that English or German has.'
It's a question I somethings thing about too.
As for Slavic languages, I think they sound quite **** but in a cold and metalic way.
It's a question I somethings thing about too.
As for Slavic languages, I think they sound quite **** but in a cold and metalic way.
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vardogrVery lispy. English has way too many -s sounds.This is the opinion of some speakers of African languages as well. Some of them call English the 'snake language' because, to their ears, it's always hissing!
Nevertheless, a French friend of mine says English sounds soft and melodious compared to German and a little harsh compared to French --
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I think the closest language that would sound very close to English is Belgian or French or German or Dutch cuz English is more Latin then Germanic But Belgian is French/German so that would be the closest
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