What are examples of language sounds that English speakers do not routinely, if ever, make? What are they called?

What are examples of language sounds that English speakers do not routinely, if ever, make? What are they called?
by

1 Answer

Answer :

answer:The French “r” and the Italian and Spanish “r.” The Spanish “v” and “b.” The French “u” as in “sur.” Most of the Hebrew consonants (lots of throat clearing there). The African click languages. The tonality and pitch sounds in some of the languages of the far east.
by

Related questions

What is the most difficult language for English speakers to learn?

Description : What is the most difficult language for English speakers to learn?

Last Answer : Inflectional languages, such as Chinese and Japanese, are often very difficult for English-speaking people to learn. Perhaps that is because English is not inflectional, but I’m not really sure.

Are there words that you routinely misspell?

Description : Are there words that you routinely misspell?

Last Answer : Diarrhea is one I always misspell, too. As well as the word definitely. I hate that fucking word. I had problems with the word necessary for a long time, but I have managed to tame that bad boy.

Why do people with extremely heavy accents routinely repeat the same thing faster and faster when you can't understand their accent?

Description : Why do people with extremely heavy accents routinely repeat the same thing faster and faster when you can't understand their accent?

Last Answer : Frustration

For English speakers...Did they change the pronunciation of the name of the planet Uranus? Did they do it to avoid awkwardness during astronomy lectures?

Description : For English speakers...Did they change the pronunciation of the name of the planet Uranus? Did they do it to avoid awkwardness during astronomy lectures?

Last Answer : As I am German, I never had that problem.

What is the origin of the accents in American English speakers?

Description : What is the origin of the accents in American English speakers?

Last Answer : answer:A manner of speaking for a specific country is called an ACCENT, such as a British Accent, or a an Italian Accent. Within a specific country, there are regional DIALECTS, such as the Southern ... , but I'm quoting him from his own writings. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Welk

To second-language speakers: How do you feel about people asking what language you speak?

Description : To second-language speakers: How do you feel about people asking what language you speak?

Last Answer : I grew up in the States, but I speak Mandarin at home. I’m now studying abroad in China and I can pass off as a native. If people ask, I say I speak English, Chinese and a little French. But if people ask which language is my mother tongue, I answer English.

Boring question #81: Which language sounds the sexiest when spoken by men and women?

Description : Boring question #81: Which language sounds the sexiest when spoken by men and women?

Last Answer : answer:Men- Scottish =) Women- German Overall- New Zealand

What are some examples of the unnecessary complexity of language (and is it actually unneeded complexity)?

Description : What are some examples of the unnecessary complexity of language (and is it actually unneeded complexity)?

Last Answer : answer:My opinion is that the complexity is not unneeded. (How'd you like that? A double negative-unneeded complexity perhaps?). I think that what people might put forward as unneeded complexity actually ... in other cases it action isn't a negation at all. Confusing, and probably deliberately so.

What are some examples of our language affecting our thinking?

Description : What are some examples of our language affecting our thinking?

Last Answer : I believe I read somewhere that if you don't have a word for a color, it's harder for you to conceptualize of it. For instance, if you have just the word blue , it's harder to distinguish between light blue ... the vast sea of pink , whereas it's harder to do that if it's all just pink to you.

French speakers: What is the diminutive for "chat"?

Description : French speakers: What is the diminutive for "chat"?

Last Answer : answer:Minou. “le minou” – kitty, pussy, pussycat, puss, mog, moggy

Japanese speakers -- what is Winter Child in Kanji?

Description : Japanese speakers -- what is Winter Child in Kanji?

Last Answer : I think it is 子

What languages / nationalities have the fastest speakers?

Description : What languages / nationalities have the fastest speakers?

Last Answer : I'm from England, and as you mentioned, there are many variations over here just in English. A typical person with a brummie accent, a person from birmingham, will talk a lot faster than ... sound faster than a person from Oxford or Cambridge, as they will take certain shortcuts when talking.

Is this a common practice among native Italian speakers?

Description : Is this a common practice among native Italian speakers?

Last Answer : answer:My mother in law is a little old lady from Italy – and she does this also. counter = count potato = potat Even names. Frank becomes Fra – Marisa becomes Mari – Christopher becomes Christ which, frankly is a lot to live up to

How do native Spanish speakers sound to each other?

Description : How do native Spanish speakers sound to each other?

Last Answer : Each country, and certain regions within each country have a differen accent…

Why shouldn't the US require teaching at least part of a curriculum in a non-English language at the start of mandated education?

Description : Why shouldn't the US require teaching at least part of a curriculum in a non-English language at the start of mandated education?

Last Answer : answer:There are plenty of reasons not to. They aren’t GOOD reasons, but still…

Does it bother you if people have conversations in another language in front of you, and only speak English when you are spoken to?

Description : Does it bother you if people have conversations in another language in front of you, and only speak English when you are spoken to?

Last Answer : Can’t say I’ve ever had that experience.

Which foreign language would likely be the easiest for a native English speaker to learn?

Description : Which foreign language would likely be the easiest for a native English speaker to learn?

Last Answer : answer:Four skills needed; Reading, writing, listening and speaking. Spanish gets my vote. All of the Romance languages have the same grammar but Spanish is by far the easiest to pronounce. Speaking French well is a real challenge. German grammar is formidable as is their three-gender noun system

What language are you very fluent at other than English?

Description : What language are you very fluent at other than English?

Last Answer : Malayalam, Hindi,Tamil.

English language colloquialism question ...which is the better noun?

Description : English language colloquialism question ...which is the better noun?

Last Answer : answer: She redefines stupidity. She has set the bar below ground. She's a dull beacon of stupidity. Your friend's phrasing will be easier to understand, but you could save the day if you make fun of the ... thing: She takes stupidity to a new level. No, I haven't got a good way to do it.

What with "What with..."? [Question on English language].

Description : What with "What with..."? [Question on English language].

Last Answer : In this usage, it means “on account of.”

How can I translate English text to Hindi language?

Description : How can I translate English text to Hindi language?

Last Answer : Paid translation is the only way to go with a document that large. You can translate simple sentences or a few words using something automated, but larger pieces are just going to be garbled. It also depends on what you’ll be using this for.

What pivotal phenomena lead English to become the dominant language of the world?

Description : What pivotal phenomena lead English to become the dominant language of the world?

Last Answer : The American Revolution, with subsequent American economic expansion

If you didn't speak English, what language would you be speaking?

Description : If you didn't speak English, what language would you be speaking?

Last Answer : Gibberish, I guess. Do you mean if I could choose another language? Italian. Or do you mean because of my heritage? German, Polish, Norwegian. You might want to clarify what you are looking for.

I've always supported the double negative rule in the English language, but why?

Description : I've always supported the double negative rule in the English language, but why?

Last Answer : Language isn’t logic or math and there’s no reason to expect it to behave like logic or math. The fact is that many languages use double negatives to reinforce each other (also called negative concord), including some dialects of English. It was a feature of all English in the 1300s and earlier.

What is the language and the english translation of the samples on CocoRosie's song "R.I.P. Burn Face"?

Description : What is the language and the english translation of the samples on CocoRosie's song "R.I.P. Burn Face"?

Last Answer : answer:In her mourning In her grave Don't you miss the way That she brushed her heavy hair Oh la la la la la ACID BURNed FACE CLOWNY TEAR SMILE She's the one who made you wild She made you ... ones you loved Flowers for the lost at sea Flowers for the ones you loved Flowers for the lost at sea

What is the hebrew word for root and what is its phoenetic (english language looking) spelling?

Description : What is the hebrew word for root and what is its phoenetic (english language looking) spelling?

Last Answer : the word for root is shoresh. the plural (roots) shorashim.

How do i get my iphone from a language i can read back english?

Description : How do i get my iphone from a language i can read back english?

Last Answer : Call 1-800 MYIPHONE If the frontline person taking your call can't handle it, insist on being bumped up to a product specialist. I'm sure you're not the first person to encounter this problem ... entitled to free telephone support for a year and longer if you sprang for the extra warranty period.

Where is the best and non so expensive language center(for English) in NYC?

Description : Where is the best and non so expensive language center(for English) in NYC?

Last Answer : Here are the ones in Manhattan. I know nothing about them. Sorry. http://tinyurl.com/npp4eo

Has the English language degenerated, and what can we do about it?

Description : Has the English language degenerated, and what can we do about it?

Last Answer : Oops, sorry all. I meant “verbiage” not verbage. I recognize that may be defined as an insult to the word verbiage. just some trivia if anyone cares.

English is such an idiomatic, and phonetic language. Why hasn't there been a (successful) attempt to "fix it" - i.e. cough, although, knight et al?

Description : English is such an idiomatic, and phonetic language. Why hasn't there been a (successful) attempt to "fix it" - i.e. cough, although, knight et al?

Last Answer : I thought the Americans tried – “color” / “colour” is one example. I don’t know how you judge if it is successful or not.

Besides English, what other language(s) are you fluent in?

Description : Besides English, what other language(s) are you fluent in?

Last Answer : 日本語を話せます．I speak Japanese.

Do most languages and/or cultures use the same numeric symbols that the English language uses?

Description : Do most languages and/or cultures use the same numeric symbols that the English language uses?

Last Answer : No. Without googling, (which is what you should be doing,” I can think of Hebrew, Greek, Cyrillic, Farsi, Arabic, Sanscrit, Hindi, for starters.

How to Teach English as a Second Language ?

Description : How to Teach English as a Second Language ?

Last Answer : How to Teach English as a Second Language The English language is fast becoming the language of choice for business, trade, and international relations. Knowledge of the English language is also necessary for ... With these tips, you can help students learn and use English to get ahead in life.

Do any Yiddish speakers know a word that sounds like "lakadavit"?

Description : Do any Yiddish speakers know a word that sounds like "lakadavit"?

Last Answer : Nothing that even looks close to it in “The Joy of Yiddish.”

Speakers of other languages: when someone asks a question about grammar in your language (please name it), does it incite as much controversy and produce as much heated disagreement as do English grammar questions here on Fluther?

Description : Speakers of other languages: when someone asks a question about grammar in your language (please name it), does it incite as much controversy and produce as much heated disagreement as do English grammar questions here on Fluther?

Last Answer : It can, as Finnish grammar is extremely complicated (14 different cases and 7 different verb endings)

Can you ever learn to speak a foreign language as a native does?

Description : Can you ever learn to speak a foreign language as a native does?

Last Answer : It will depend on how much you interact with native speakers and try to internalise as your own and overall time spent.

Have you ever heard (and liked) a song in a language you don't speak?

Description : Have you ever heard (and liked) a song in a language you don't speak?

Last Answer : answer:There have been lots of foreign language hits in the US. “Volare, oh oh! Contare, oh oh oh oh!” “Bleu, bleu,!‘amour est bleu.”

Have you ever been in a situation where you would pray or trade for understanding a different language in an instant?

Description : Have you ever been in a situation where you would pray or trade for understanding a different language in an instant?

Last Answer : answer:Google is working on that for you. Google plans to upgrade its Translate app to be able to interpret conversations between people speaking different languages in real time. Following in the ... company Quest Visual as part of its Word Lens tool. Google acquired Quest Visual in 2014.

Are Pokemon names an amalgam of two words in other languages like they are in English?

Description : Are Pokemon names an amalgam of two words in other languages like they are in English?

Last Answer : answer:I also love the first 151, I used to know pretty much all of them by their numbers. I was shocked when I went to search for Pokémons right now and found out that nowadays there are ... Kobra. There was also Abra, Kadabra and Alakazam, they were quite the magicians ! I miss my childhood

What are good examples of "first world problems" other than the kind found in dictionaries?

Description : What are good examples of "first world problems" other than the kind found in dictionaries?

Last Answer : Trying to figure out what qualifies as a first world problem.

In your opinion, what are examples of some of the most beautiful and most ugly languages in the world?

Description : In your opinion, what are examples of some of the most beautiful and most ugly languages in the world?

Last Answer : The most beautiful: Japanese. The ugliest: Texan.

Would a person forget how to speak their native language if they hadn't spoken it since their early teens?

Description : Would a person forget how to speak their native language if they hadn't spoken it since their early teens?

Last Answer : My bet is that language acquired in childhood would be difficult to erase, particularly if everyday fluency were extended into the teen years.

If animals had human language, what do you think they would tell us?

Description : If animals had human language, what do you think they would tell us?

Last Answer : answer:My dog isn't allowed to differ from my opinions. Plus, if she could talk, I'd have to stop that. She's seen too much.~ A cow would say moo.' A pig would say oink.' A cat would say ... better than me, without enslaving an animal. Now you're just being a dick.' A turkey says goble.' Etc .

Are language skills instinctual, or are they an advanced tool instinct?

Description : Are language skills instinctual, or are they an advanced tool instinct?

Last Answer : It's probably a little bit a both - but our brains are uniquely tuned for language/language development. Particular parts of the brain, when damaged, solely affect a person's ability to ... an individual will perceive themselves as speaking clearly, but the words they use are utterly nonsensical.

For ask-publicites 60 and over, in the 1950s and early 1960s, did people use vulgar language as much as they do today, and if they did use profanity, what sort of bad words did they use in those days?

Description : For ask-publicites 60 and over, in the 1950s and early 1960s, did people use vulgar language as much as they do today, and if they did use profanity, what sort of bad words did they use in those days?

Last Answer : Dangit!! Dag Nabit….shucks! Jimminy Crickets!! Yark! ;)

If a person speaks a very complicated language as his native tongue, would this make it easier to learn other languages?

Description : If a person speaks a very complicated language as his native tongue, would this make it easier to learn other languages?

Last Answer : Yes. If the person has access to a lot of phonemes (if vowels have a lot of different sounds in Complexinese, for example), then that person will be naturally better at differentiating phonemes in other languages. If it’s just complicated because it’s crazy and chaotic, like English, than maybe not.

As China is emerging as the next big superpower - wouldn't it make sense to start teaching Chinese as a second language in schools?

Description : As China is emerging as the next big superpower - wouldn't it make sense to start teaching Chinese as a second language in schools?

Last Answer : International business is primarily done in Mandarin and English. So, yes, in some ways it would be good to know.

Did you know that you can make facebook in pirate language?

Description : Did you know that you can make facebook in pirate language?

Last Answer : answer:Yep. I believe robmandu mentioned this on one of the pirate Qs during international talk like a pirate day. edit – here is the thread i was talking about.

Can you recommend an English to French and vice versa translation site (see details)?

Description : Can you recommend an English to French and vice versa translation site (see details)?

Last Answer : answer:Snow bank banc de beige. Plowing the snow – labourer la neige clearing the snow – dégager la neige Google translate works fairly well.

Is American English dying?

Description : Is American English dying?

Last Answer : Somewhat relevant (maybe?) brilliance from the world’s best troll.