Topmusicanswers
There unfortunately have not been any wide-ranging studies on language speed. One 2011 study from the Université de Lyon looked at 7 languages, which reported the order as Japanese (7.84 syllables per second), Spanish (7.82), French (7.18), Italian (6.99), English (6.19), German (5.97) and Mandarin (5.18).
- What are the slowest languages?
- How many syllables per second is English spoken?
- What is the average syllables per second?
- Is Spanish actually faster than English?
What are the slowest languages?
Mandarin. Mandarin is the slowest recorded language with a rate as low as 5.18 syllables per second.
How many syllables per second is English spoken?
English, with a high information density of . 91, is spoken at an average rate of 6.19 syllables per second.
What is the average syllables per second?
A typical speaking rate for English is 4 syllables per second, but in different emotional or social contexts the rate may vary, one study reporting a range between 3.3 and 5.9 syl/sec, Another study found significant differences in speaking rate between story-telling and taking part in an interview.
Is Spanish actually faster than English?
“Speakers of some languages seem to rattle away at high speed like machine-guns, while other languages sound rather slow and plodding,” wrote linguist Peter Roach in 1998.
