Is English a Soft or Harsh Language for Communication?

  • Context: Lingusitics 
  • Thread starter Thread starter fxdung
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    English Language
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether English is a soft or harsh language for communication, exploring aspects of pronunciation, vocal quality, and subjective perceptions of language softness compared to other languages like German and Spanish. Participants examine the implications of accent, phonetics, and cultural influences on speech.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that English is a soft language, suggesting that the tongue's relaxation during speech may contribute to this perception.
  • Others argue that descriptions of English as 'soft' are subjective and may vary based on comparisons with other languages, such as German, which is perceived to have harder sounds.
  • A participant mentions that English contains more blended vowel sounds compared to languages like Spanish, which may contribute to its perceived softness.
  • Some discuss the role of accent reduction classes in helping non-native speakers achieve a more 'native' pronunciation, highlighting the mechanics of sound production.
  • There are claims that certain languages, like Hawaiian, are entirely composed of soft sounds, while others, like German, contain many harsh sounds.
  • Participants express confusion over what constitutes a "soft voice" and request examples or clarifications to better understand the concept.
  • Some contributions suggest that women may speak with a more relaxed tongue when articulating consonants, leading to a perception of softness in their speech.
  • There is mention of the idea that English vowels may be perceived as harder than those in French, adding another layer to the discussion of softness in language.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether English is definitively a soft or harsh language, with multiple competing views and subjective interpretations remaining throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the influence of regional accents, social factors, and individual pronunciation styles on perceptions of language softness, indicating that these factors may complicate the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in linguistics, language learning, phonetics, and cross-cultural communication may find this discussion relevant.

  • #31
Is there a tendency in saying English that the back part of tongue is swollen?Example the audio in #20
 
Last edited:
Science news on Phys.org
  • #32
I don't know what you mean by swollen. When producing vowels, you move the central part of the tongue to positions indicated on the charts. Wikipedia's article on vowels has excellent explanations which part of the tongue moves, including Roentgen pictures.
You'd move the tongue towards the back when pronouncing 'back' vowels. Those on the right-hand side of the graph. As you can see, both languages have such vowels (and French has more - but then again, it has more vowels overall).
 
  • #33
English is not a soft language. When it comes to communication, English is actually quite straightforward and direct. There is very little room for ambiguity, and most things are said exactly as they mean. This can be a good thing, as it eliminates confusion and miscommunication. However, it can also be seen as a negative trait, as it can make English seem harsh or blunt. In reality, though, English is just a language like any other, and it has its own quirks and idiosyncrasies. Those who learn to speak it fluently will find that it is a powerful tool for communication.
 
  • #34
mlakonsky said:
English is not a soft language. When it comes to communication, English is actually quite straightforward and direct. There is very little room for ambiguity, and most things are said exactly as they mean. This can be a good thing, as it eliminates confusion and miscommunication. However, it can also be seen as a negative trait, as it can make English seem harsh or blunt. In reality, though, English is just a language like any other, and it has its own quirks and idiosyncrasies. Those who learn to speak it fluently will find that it is a powerful tool for communication.
The English language has enough ways to let a person alter how something is expressed, so that what is expressed is actually very murky and imprecise.
 

Similar threads

Lingusitics Sounds of g and c in Romance languages (and some of English)
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • Sticky
How to use the "w" in www
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
4K
Lingusitics Language as a universal engineering solution
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
Lingusitics Are Natural and Mathematical Languages the Only Primary Forms of Communication?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
Physics Guidance For Writing Scientific Papers In A Second Language
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
How can I improve my English for GRE and TOEFL exams?
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
Why the English Adopted the Latin Alphabet
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
News Is the Dual Meaning of Probability Eroding English Clarity?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Different Temperatures of Ice versus the Refractive Index
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Lingusitics Learning a new language: the best way to go about it?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K