The Babbel survey provides a glimpse into the evolution of perceptions of linguistic attractiveness.
Italian has surpassed French to become the most attractive language in the world, according to a groundbreaking study conducted by language learning platform Babbel.
The survey, which surveyed the opinions of 6,000 individuals across the US, UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany, revealed interesting insights into the perceived sexiness, romanticism and passion associated with different languages.
What brought the Italian to this prestigious position?
Babbel language teacher Noel Wolf reveals the fascinating factors contributing to the newfound appeal of Italian. The rise and fall of pitch in Italian speaking creates a melodic quality that attracts admirers with its musical appeal. Moreover, the distinct rolling of the Italian ‘r’ sound adds an element of fascination and allure, as emphasized by Wolf.
In particular, linguistic research has expanded beyond the realm of attractiveness. German surprised many by taking first place as the “most direct” language, while British English was praised by respondents as the “most polite” language.
This linguistic shift challenges previously held notions, as evidenced by Babbel’s 2017 survey. Babbel ranked French as the “sexiest accent” and Italian as a close second. Linguist Patti Adank of University College London highlights English speakers' preference for the melodic qualities of languages such as French and Italian, contrasting them with the harshness of tonal languages such as Thai and Mandarin.
As languages compete for supremacy in the field of attraction, a linguistic phenomenon called “Miami English” emerges on the South Florida coast.
Originating from the region's vibrant cultural mosaic and popularized by American-born youth, this evolving dialect seamlessly integrates English words into Spanish forms, reflecting the region's rich linguistic diversity.