What are charicteristics of the english language that stands out to people that do not speak english?
Posted by admin on October 25, 2008
ok well you know how german has that throaty sound in some pronunciation and french has kind of a nasely sound to it… what are some charicteristics of the english language that stands out?
By: mose
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By: mose
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Posted under English Langauge
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The abundant use of the letter “s”. Some people call English the hissing language because there are so many “s” sounds.
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This depends largely upon the native tongue of the person, as well as what other languages that person knows. It also depends on whether you are talking about British English or American English. Some of the most widespread characteristics is the fact that English is not a phonetic language (or, as the linguists say, not a transparent language). That is, from the letters alone you cannot be sure how to pronounce it. As an example, look at the “ough” in tough, though, through, and ought. Another characteristic is the large number of exceptions to the rules, since English is a mixture of Germanic and Romance language characteristics. Except for Greek and Spanish speakers, the “th” sounds are difficult. Prepositions are another headache for many. Despite all this, many people find English an easier language to learn than many other languages. As to how English sounds to people, this varies widely, and is usually in contrast to the native language.
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