What does English sound like to those who speak it?

When I listen to languages I don't understand, I hear them in a way different then those who speak them. In hearing sounds instead of words a language can easily sound ugly or beautiful etc. Since there are those in this forum who started out speaking a different language, I was wondering what you thought of English before you could understand it. Was it ugly? Boring? Or what?

is it your brain

English sounds. . .real. Like it's the only real language, and all others are just. . .sounds that were made by different people. Not better or worse, just. . .real.

English sounds. . .real. Like it's the only real language, and all others are just. . .sounds that were made by different people. Not better or worse, just. . .real.

Dracargen

English sounds. . .real. Like it's the only real language, and all others are just. . .sounds that were made by different people. Not better or worse, just. . .real.

Dracargen

I can also speak a bit of arabic but it sounds like gibberish when I talk, English just sounds like the only normal language to me.

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]

English sounds. . .real. Like it's the only real language, and all others are just. . .sounds that were made by different people. Not better or worse, just. . .real.

iArab

I can also speak a bit of arabic but it sounds like gibberish when I talk, English just sounds like the only normal language to me.

Yeah, I can speak a little Spanish and some Latin, but it all sounds. . . .how is a good way to say it. . . .like sounds. Not language, but sounds. I suppose English sounds that way to other people.

[QUOTE="iArab"][QUOTE="Dracargen"]

English sounds. . .real. Like it's the only real language, and all others are just. . .sounds that were made by different people. Not better or worse, just. . .real.

Dracargen

I can also speak a bit of arabic but it sounds like gibberish when I talk, English just sounds like the only normal language to me.

Yeah, I can speak a little Spanish and some Latin, but it all sounds. . . .how is a good way to say it. . . .like sounds. Not language, but sounds. I suppose English sounds that way to other people.

I dunno, but Spanish sounded hella annoying, before I could understand it. Now that I can, it doesn't sound like a bunch of speed talking :PDivergeUnify

English sounds. . .real. Like it's the only real language, and all others are just. . .sounds that were made by different people. Not better or worse, just. . .real.

Dracargen

When I listen to languages I don't understand, I hear them in a way different then those who speak them. In hearing sounds instead of words a language can easily sound ugly or beautiful etc. Since there are those in this forum who started out speaking a different language, I was wondering what you thought of English before you could understand it. Was it ugly? Boring? Or what?

martin_11

I dont know if you actually know it, but your thread's title and your post kind of contradict themselves,

In your title, you kind of ask English people what they think of their language, then, in your post, youre asking people with English as a second or third language what they think of it.

No wonder all your thread is about people saying English is the only language that sounds real (AKA, English people who answered based on your topic, not your post.)

[QUOTE="martin_11"]

When I listen to languages I don't understand, I hear them in a way different then those who speak them. In hearing sounds instead of words a language can easily sound ugly or beautiful etc. Since there are those in this forum who started out speaking a different language, I was wondering what you thought of English before you could understand it. Was it ugly? Boring? Or what?

kalossimitar

I dont know if you actually know it, but your thread's title and your post kind of contradict themselves,

In your title, you kind of ask English people what they think of their language, then, in your post, youre asking people with English as a second or third language what they think of it.

No wonder all your thread is about people saying English is the only language that sounds real (AKA, English people who answered based on your topic, not your post.)

This is the guy that I agree with becasue I had the very same thought. Most of the people here answering your question are primary English speakers. You should probably reformulate your topic title so it entices people of other primary languages to enter and respond. (I'm interesested to know what others think of English too, I just want non-native English speakers to answer the damn question :P )

[QUOTE="DivergeUnify"]I dunno, but Spanish sounded hella annoying, before I could understand it. Now that I can, it doesn't sound like a bunch of speed talking :Pgman56

I have that same feeling about any of the other languages that I don't understand like German or latin. Some words are similiar to their English/Spanish/French counterparts but when I hear people speak those languages, I can't understand anything at all.

When I didn't know English, I felt the same way. It was too fast and weird.

It's impossible to speak a language fluently without it sounding normal to you. The same goes with accents. You're completely immune to things like that. I'm from California by the way.

Anyway, here's my view of the way each language sounds, in case there are any speakers of the languages here interested:...

• French: Sounds kind of sly, sneeky, and mischievous....Like a funky chef holding a secret with you..(I don't know, that's just how I see it. lol)
• Dutch: Sounds like some funny guy running around some hills, kind of like a German version of a Leprechaun if that makes sense. Kind of up an dandy sounding.
• German: Sounds sophisticated and doesn't sound like the stereotypical "eating a sausage while talking" sound. It sounds calm and smart, like someone is about to talk about science or something.
• Russian: Sounds kind of angry and mysterious at the same time. Like someone could be your friend for a few minutes then can yell at you two seconds later unexpectedly. Kind of low, smart-ish, and slow.
• Canadians: not a language but they sound pretty much like us, but a hint of a "hey wanna play hockey?"-ish enthusiasm to it. It's hard to explain.

It's impossible to speak a language fluently without it sounding normal to you. The same goes with accents. You're completely immune to things like that. I'm from California by the way.

Anyway, here's my view of the way each language sounds, in case there are any speakers of the languages here interested:...

• French: Sounds kind of sly, sneeky, and mischievous....Like a funky chef holding a secret with you..(I don't know, that's just how I see it. lol)
• Dutch: Sounds like some funny guy running around some hills, kind of like a German version of a Leprechaun if that makes sense. Kind of up an dandy sounding.
• German: Sounds sophisticated and doesn't sound like the stereotypical "eating a sausage while talking" sound. It sounds calm and smart, like someone is about to talk about science or something.
• Russian: Sounds kind of angry and mysterious at the same time. Like someone could be your friend for a few minutes then can yell at you two seconds later unexpectedly. Kind of low, smart-ish, and slow.
• Canadians: not a language but they sound pretty much like us, but a hint of a "hey wanna play hockey?"-ish enthusiasm to it. It's hard to explain.

camreeno360

Yeah, thats actually sort of what its like for me:

Spanish: Talk really fast, but it sounds quite fluid. The only real spanish I hear is commentators on La Liga matches...GOOOOOOLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Italian: Sound very soft and beutiful. Alot of use of the tounge to pronouce words.

Portugese: Sounds like Spanish (sorry!)

Mexian: IS Spanish

yeah cant think of any more

i speak chinese but i learned english first and they both sound all right to me. i dont like how some other languages sound, like japanese. and i find some European languages kinda funny and they sound like half the words have the same sound in them.

here's another question to ponder thats brough up more frequently though, dialects and accents. sometimes its hard to believe they are the same language when someone has a really different dialect. Take chinese for instance. they have so many dialects that sound somewhat similar but are so different at the same time. unlike the US where you can at least make very similar sounds for the words you want to speak, which makes understand each other VERy easy. and, i went to England and actually coulnt understand a few people. just a few but thats enough for me to be amazed.

Here's some more:

• I don't speak Spanish or know much about it but. Mexican Spanish: sounds kind of higher pitched than the Spanish speaking Spanish, kind of secretive sounding...I don't know. Spain Spanish: Sounds like someone is about to jump on a horse like Zorro, sounds like some woman seducing tool, sounds smart in a sly way...In other words like Antonio Banderas...
• Japanese: sounds like someone is cutting a cucumber into slices really fast with a sharp knife, sounds kind of like feudal samurai talk or something, sounds like chipmunks when teenage girls speak it, serious/ businessy sounding when a man speaks it.
• Taiwanese: I got this from watching the Travel channel alone but it sounds like the Chinese only squeakier and humbler or something, like someone wants you to go into their little store and buy something....
• Cockny English: (the London area) sounds kind of "hey come with us mate and we'll drink some pints"-ish, kind of weird and in a way you can't understand but inviting in an uncanny way. Sounds like something someone in scruffy clothing would speak, but is more intelligent than they look.

Here's some more:

• I don't speak Spanish or know much about it but. Mexican Spanish: sounds kind of higher pitched than the Spanish speaking Spanish, kind of secretive sounding...I don't know. Spain Spanish: Sounds like someone is about to jump on a horse like Zorro, sounds like some woman seducing tool, sounds smart in a sly way...In other words like Antonio Banderas...
• Japanese: sounds like someone is cutting a cucumber into slices really fast with a sharp knife, sounds kind of like feudal samurai talk or something, sounds like chipmunks when teenage girls speak it, serious/ businessy sounding when a man speaks it.
• Taiwanese: I got this from watching the Travel channel alone but it sounds like the Chinese only squeakier and humbler or something, like someone wants you to go into their little store and buy something....
• Cockny English: (the London area) sounds kind of "hey come with us mate and we'll drink some pints"-ish, kind of weird and in a way you can't understand but inviting in an uncanny way. Sounds like something someone in scruffy clothing would speak, but is more intelligent than they look.

camreeno360

LOL only time i hear Taiwanese anymore is when my mom speaks and she is LOUD. on the phone with my grandma or her cousin.

What? Do you mean to those who don't speak it. To me mostly asian languages sounds gibberish to me. Spanish is a tabgibberish, but it's very similar to English. Both French & Deutsch are like english.

That's what I think. But I speak someFrench, Deutsch & Spanish. Not fluently, arather poorly but enough to realize words are very similar.