What is the ideal balance of consonants and vowels in a spoken language?

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The discussion centers on the optimal number of consonants and vowels in spoken languages, sparked by Maryna Viazovska's Fields Medal win. Participants explore whether language structure varies based on pronunciation characteristics and express curiosity about the distribution of vowels in languages like Dutch, which reportedly has a high vowel count, compared to languages like Bosnian and Polish. The conversation highlights that English, with its extensive vowel sounds and adaptability, serves as a prime example of linguistic evolution through borrowing from various languages. The adaptability of English is emphasized, with references to its rich vocabulary and historical influences, suggesting that its diverse phonetic structure contributes to its longevity. Additionally, the mention of Salishan languages illustrates the contrast in consonant density, showcasing the variety in language structures across different linguistic families. Overall, the dialogue reflects on the complexities and peculiarities of language development and structure.
arivero
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The current Fields medal awarded to Maryna Viazovska makes me wonder: which is the optimal/preferred number of consonants and vowels of a spoken language? Do we have some statistics? Does it depends on particularities of the pronuntiation?
 
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Why are the Dutch hoarding all those vowels when the poor Bosnians and Poles need them so badly?
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
Why are the Dutch hoarding all those vowels when the poor Bosnians and Poles need them so badly?
Do not discard they opt for an error-correcting pronunciation based on 24 vowels and 8 consonants.
 
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arivero said:
Do not discard they opt for an error-correcting pronunciation based on 24 vowels and 8 consonants.
Hm ... that many vowels seems like an error-inducing method.
 
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English has a great many, Hawaiian has few. English has more sounds than are found in the Roman alphabet, so writing it is a transliteration.
 
Goes to show that english as a melange of a great many languages by borrowing from wherever it sees fit will quite probably last for quite a long time, just because of its adaptablity.
 
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256bits said:
Goes to show that english as a melange of a great many languages by borrowing from wherever it sees fit will quite probably last for quite a long time, just because of its adaptablity.
"English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.” - James Nicoll.
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
"English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore."
We had to be whores, tribes kept bending over backwards to get over here and do their worst and a few got through.
I think it worked out ok, my ancestors had a hard time possibly but after over a 1000 years of invasions of our country lives and language? Out popped Chaucer, Shakespeare, a few other guys.
Its not my thing really but I have heard they were ok.
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
"English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.” - James Nicoll.
In other words, "fervent acquisition".
 
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