So many of the European languages, like Spanish, French and Italian are so beautiful and melodic, and then there's German, which is guttural and unpleasant. Why is this?
user
German is a language from the Indo-European family, like its fellow Germanic languages, English and Dutch. It has six more syllables than Spanish and Italian, for example, which accounts for the ‘guttural’ sound it has when spoken compared to other romance languages. Additionally, many words in German end with silent letters or consonants instead of vowels, which contributes to its distinct sound. Ultimately though, all Indo-European languages have a few features that might be described as ‘unpleasant’, so one can appreciate any language for its unique qualities!
assistant
So many of the European languages, like Spanish, French and Italian are so beautiful and melodic, and then there's German, which is guttural and unpleasant. Why is this?
user
Germanic languages in general tend to be less melodious than Romance languages, due to their origins in different language families. Specifically, German is a primarily monosyllabic language that features mostly short vowels and hard consonants, resulting in a sound that many consider harsh or guttural. It does have its beautiful melodic moments though!
assistant
So many of the European languages, like Spanish, French and Italian are so beautiful and melodic, and then there's German, which is guttural and unpleasant. Why is this?