Language and the Character of Nations

[VetLegion]

This just struck me as I was listening to some guys speaking Portugese - isn't that language so very slow, kind of sleepy? It also sounds a bit resignated. When I hear someone speaking Portugese every sentence seems like it has a "what ever will be will be" undertone.

So this got me wondering: can we conclude something about "national character" from just the sound of language its people speak?

Portugese sounds resignated, so this predicts Portugese would be resignated.

Spanish is different. I know it has a common root with Portugese but Spanish is much livelier. Faster and more energetic. Spaniards should then be more energetic than the Portugese.

Another language whose sounds seem very characteristic is Slovak. I swear, it sounds ironic and even a bit jaded to me.

Japanese is militaristic. All that "AI! AI!" and the attitude that goes with it makes it such.

German sounds nitpicky and analytic.

British English is self-righteous. American English... doesn't have a prevailing characteristic.

I know this isn't very scientific but it isn't meant to be
Feel free to comment my impressions and add your own.

[Q Classic]

You're ignoring dialectical considerations.

[VetLegion]

OK, true that. I'm talking about my experiences. My image of the typical French is probably different than yours.

[Emetri]

Russian sounds drunk, Greek sounds totally incomprehensible. There might be something to this.

[Provost Harrison]

Italians always sound furious

[Asher]

British always sound gay

[lord of the mark]

Re: Language and the Character of Nations

Originally posted by VetLegion
Japanese is militaristic. All that "AI! AI!" and the attitude that goes with it makes it such.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

Maybe Ive heard it too much from teen aged girls, anime background songs, etc, etc.

[Japher]

American English... doesn't have a prevailing characteristic

Certain dialects though sound weird. The southern draw, Texan, midwestern slant, Bostonians inability to pronounce the letter R...

Japanesse is militant with an edge of too much caffine.

[Barnabas]

Country singers sound nasal

[Asher]

Israelis are flemmy

[BeBMan]

Re: Language and the Character of Nations

Originally posted by VetLegion

German sounds nitpicky and analytic.

It's not nitpicky, its precise language! /nitpicker

[Provost Harrison]

Quiet you, you're just disappointed German didn't get the title of harsh and militaristic instead of Japan

[BeBMan]

Jawohl, Sirrrrrr! *salutes*

[Tattila the Hun]

Re: Language and the Character of Nations

Originally posted by VetLegion
Japanese is militaristic. All that "AI! AI!" and the attitude that goes with it makes it such.

You say they are militaristic, and demonstrate it with the word meaning "love"?

[MrWhereItsAt]

Nah, it's more the accent. Swiss French has more of a 'rural' sound to my ears than French French. Don't ask me about Quebecois French - I don't know what to say about it. And Spanish seem to have two speeds - native uberfast and the Spanish spoken with an non-native, which is considerably slower and more enunciated for the benefit of yon ignorant foreigner.