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LifestyleGermanyhttps://p.dw.com/p/5PQu2
Some languages, like French, are often seen as soft and melodic. German, on the other hand, has a reputation for sounding unusually harsh. But is that all just a cliché rooted in Nazi-era tropes, or is there actually something hard about language itself? Author Andrea Weller-Essers attributes German’s reputation for harshness to its heavy use of consonants and glottal stops. Non-speakers frequently misinterpret these sounds, finding them argumentative – or even angry-sounding. On the other hand, German is considered a remarkably clear language – depending on cadence and context. And if you strike the right tone, it even makes for pleasant listening.
