At the moment, approximately 7,000 languages are known to exist, which belong to 140 unique groups. Each band has its own special characteristics and sound. Some people believe that some languages are more melodic and pleasing to the ear than others. For example, many people admire Italian, the language of Leonardo da Vinci and Luciano Pavarotti. There are those who admire the clarity and speed of the German language, while others prefer French. Recent studies conducted by specialists have determined whether there are languages that people like more than others!
How do you know which language is beautiful and which isn't?
According to IFL Science, the experiment involved 820 participants who were native speakers of English, Chinese and Semitic languages — common in the Middle East and Africa regions. Participants in the experiment were asked to evaluate 2,000 different audio recordings in 228 languages from 40 language groups — the recordings were with different intonation, timbre and other characteristics.
Interestingly, none of the languages has become an undisputed favorite! For example, native Chinese speakers preferred Mandarin, English, and Japanese. The majority of Semitic languages preferred Spanish, English, Italian, and Arabic. However, the study did not reveal a language that everyone liked equally.
According to the study, participants were not very fond of Tok Pisin , a language that is one of the main languages in Papua New Guinea, which is based on English. It is currently spoken by 3-4 million people, so the language is not endangered. The same cannot be said about many other languages, since, according to scientists, by the end of the 21st century, their number may decrease by as much as a third.
What voices do people like more?
In a study that was supposed to identify the most melodic languages, the researchers unexpectedly noted a separate category: vocal preference. Unexpectedly for many, the hoarse female voices won the sympathy of a larger number of participants, but the rough male timbres did not particularly inspire the listeners.
Based on the results of the experiment, the scientists concluded that although certain voice timbres can be very attractive, languages in this regard have shown themselves to be surprisingly neutral - it was not possible to identify a favorite.
Which languages fascinate the ear more?
Although it was not possible to determine a universal language that would appeal to everyone, there are many ratings of the most melodic and pleasant representatives.
Italian Romance in Words
Italian often tops the lists of the most beautiful languages. People are fascinated by its melody, which is due to the ending of many words into vowels. This language is filled with passion and artistry, and even an uninformed listener can perceive the conversation of Italians as a piece of music.
Mathematical Harmony of Arabic
Arabic is often ranked second in such rankings, and its beauty comes not only from its sound, but also from its deep historical roots. It is believed that this language has a mathematical harmony: if a person listens to it, he will intuitively understand what is meant. In addition, we should not forget about the visual aesthetics of the Arabic script, where each letter can be considered a work of art.
Finnish Musicality in Words
A lot of people like Finnish. Music and poetry are in perfect harmony with its sound. It is no coincidence that the creator of The Lord of the Rings, John Tolkien, developed the Elvish language Quenya, inspired by Finnish! This language differs from most European languages, which is why it is considered unique by many scholars.
German Clarity and Edges
Lovers of the German language often praise it for its directness and a certain asceticism in sound. For example, the success of the band Rammstein can be indirectly explained by the characteristic sound of German words. However, German is capable of displaying a variety of tonalities, including gentle and affectionate ones, depending on who is pronouncing it and how it is pronounced.
French and its indescribable charm
French is also deservedly recognized as one of the most beautiful. A characteristic feature of French is a fast and emotionally charged pace of speech, which can be replaced by extraordinary tenderness and ease. There are elements of mysterious charm and even a kind of playful romance in French words, which is why it is attractive to people from all over the world.
