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Every language has tradeoffs. Sure, Spanish might be easier to pronounce since the rules are more rigid, but on the other hand the information density is way lo
by ythn 8y ago
Every language has tradeoffs. Sure, Spanish might be easier to pronounce since the rules are more rigid, but on the other hand the information density is way lower. It takes 2-3 syllables of Spanish to communicate the same information as 1 syllable of English.
- dorchadas 8y agoYes, but the rate at which languages convey information is roughly the same [1]. So Spanish speakers just speak faster. [1] http://ohll.ish-lyon.cnrs.fr/fulltext/pellegrino/Pellegrino_to%20appear_Language.pdf http://ohll.ish-lyon.cnrs.fr/fulltext/pellegrino/Pellegrino_... The PDF linked is a draft of the paper, freely available; it's been removed from Academia, so here's the JSTOR link of the final release: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23011654 https://www.jstor.org/stable/23011654
- ythn 8y agoFor speaking, sure, but if you are writing then Spanish will take longer because you have to physically type out more characters.
- mbroncano 8y agoAs a fluent speaker of both languages I couldn’t say. In general Spanish requires less mental effort as you write what you say, whereas in English there’s always that particular randomness that’s otherwise arbitrary between how to write a word and how it sounds.
- dsego 8y agoHahaha, reminds me of this Itchy Feet comic http://www.itchyfeetcomic.com/2015/09/conspiracion.html#.W1uYYC2B2Aw http://www.itchyfeetcomic.com/2015/09/conspiracion.html#.W1u...
- ggreer 8y agoIn the paper you link to, the information rate of English is about 10% higher than Spanish. That may not seem like much, but it's probably enough to matter.