Beautiful Languages

[Merci Alizée]

I was reading a discussion over languages on some other forum and one poster pointed out that Italian is considered as one of the most beautiful language. Why?

I have noticed same with some other languages. Urdu and Telugu are considered more melodic and beautiful than other languages in this part of the world.

German is probably considered anti-beautiful? Germans (read Jenny) please don't kill me for this.

So, what's the reason behind adoring a language more than other? Is it just stereotype? Is it because art and literature flourished more in one language than other ones?

[Fall]

Originally Posted by Merci Alizée

Is it just stereotype? Is it because art and literature flourished more in one language than other ones?

I don't know if it's because of literature and art, but that sounds like a good reason. I personally like the sound of Portuguese, but I don't know any art or literature in that language, just a song or two, one of which I will link below. Just from hearing people speak it, I like the sound of it. Especially girls It sounds a little bit like Spanish and French put together with an extra something, it's quite nice in my opinon


This is a song from the 70s by Roberto Carlos, a famous Brazilian singer. It's a song about a very loyal friend. I believe it's called Amigo

[Karin]

Originally Posted by Merci Alizée

German is probably considered anti-beautiful? Germans (read Jenny) please don't kill me for this.

cause its hard like a swine

[lefty12357]

I hear a lot of people say that French is the most beautiful language. I think this concept of "beautiful language" has a lot to do with the way a language sounds when properly pronounced rather than just the words of the language itself. That's why many English speakers like the sound of a person speaking English with a French accent, or for that matter, with an Italian accent. They can almost make English sound beautiful. Personally, I enjoy hearing English spoken in many different accents.

[awkward Turtle]

I think a beautiful language is all just up to personal preference. I actually think German can be quite beautiful with the right voice and intonations.

On the other hand, I find Italian to be quite an ugly language. That might be because I speak Spanish and think Italian sounds like Spanish, just with random hard and jarring sounds thrown in which ruins the entire ascetic of the language. Then again, it is all just opinions, and I am sure many people will disagree with mine here.

[Rev]

Originally Posted by Merci Alizée

I was reading a discussion over languages on some other forum and one poster pointed out that Italian is considered as one of the most beautiful language. Why?

I have noticed same with some other languages. Urdu and Telugu are considered more melodic and beautiful than other languages in this part of the world.

German is probably considered anti-beautiful? Germans (read Jenny) please don't kill me for this.

So, what's the reason behind adoring a language more than other? Is it just stereotype? Is it because art and literature flourished more in one language than other ones?

An anecdote sometimes attributed to King Charles is: "I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men and German to my horse." (noted in Wikipedia)

I think of English as not a very beautiful language. I would love to see Sanskrit become the universal language, but alas, it is not to be.

Spanish, Italian and French are often referred to as romance languages. I am guessing that this is due to the easy flow of pronunciation as well as the ability of these languages to convey emotionality and nuance well.

[Bigdan]

http://youtu.be/9BDyEB4T84g

Juliette Greco.
The French language at his best.

[awkward Turtle]

Originally Posted by Rev

Spanish, Italian and French are often referred to as romance languages. I am guessing that this is due to the easy flow of pronunciation as well as the ability of these languages to convey emotionality and nuance well.

They are called Romance languages because they all evolved from Latin, the language spoken by the Romans.

In just the same way, English belongs to the Germanic family of languages because it evolved, along with German, Dutch, Norwegian, and others from a theorized proto-Germanic language.

[Merci Alizée]

Originally Posted by Rev

Spanish, Italian and French are often referred to as romance languages. I am guessing that this is due to the easy flow of pronunciation as well as the ability of these languages to convey emotionality and nuance well.

Is it the case with languages having lot of words ending with a vowel?

[Rev]

Originally Posted by Merci Alizée

Is it the case with languages having lot of words ending with a vowel?

I don't know any more. I remember learning all this in high school, but I have long since forgotten the details. Do we have a language major out ther who can answer this (where is Garcon Canadien when you need him)?

Originally Posted by awkward Turtle

They are called Romance languages because they all evolved from Latin, the language spoken by the Romans.

In just the same way, English belongs to the Germanic family of languages because it evolved, along with German, Dutch, Norwegian, and others from a theorized proto-Germanic language.

And those from Indo-European - the common root to western and Indian languages, including Latin and Sanskrit.

By the way, if I remember correctly, Lithuanian is the closest modern day language to the ancient Indo-European.