Which nation is the worst at speaking English?
And why (to your humble opinion)?
And why (to your humble opinion)?
Worst People At Speaking English?
English is a language of consonant clusters (the word "strengths" is a good example - 6 consonants to one vowel). As such, it can be nearly unpronounceable to people whose native language does not allow anything more complex than "one consonant + one vowel/diphthong" syllables. Chinese and Japanese are two obvious such languages. A Chinese speaker's spoken English is often incomprehensible, even when his written English is lexically rich and grammatically complex.
I'd also have to say China, and basically agree with what Woozle said. Many Chinese can write excellent English, but when it comes to speaking it aloud...disaster! Southeast Asians also seem to have a lot of problems, especially the Vietnamese. Although, from what I've heard, people from these regions have bigger problems with English vowels and diphthongs than with consonants.
In Europe, the French are probably the worst at speaking English aloud, perhaps partially because they don't care. The Finns are also surprisingly bad at pronouncing English, considering that they have to study it from their early youth.
In Europe, the French are probably the worst at speaking English aloud, perhaps partially because they don't care. The Finns are also surprisingly bad at pronouncing English, considering that they have to study it from their early youth.
Italy, France and Spain, out of the touristic places don't speak English.
Perhaps, you can speak like Tarzan, but it will be difficult. You will have a lot of problems in little towns of these countries, if you don't speak their language.
Perhaps, you can speak like Tarzan, but it will be difficult. You will have a lot of problems in little towns of these countries, if you don't speak their language.
<<In Europe, the French are probably the worst at speaking English aloud, perhaps partially because they don't care.>>
Austrians are pretty bad at speaking English, due to pronunciation issues. I would consider them worse than the French imnsho
Austrians are pretty bad at speaking English, due to pronunciation issues. I would consider them worse than the French imnsho
the French
they can't actually speak any language like Spaniards more or less, but Spanish lacks lots of common sounds, so it's quite hard for Spanish people to learn foreign languages
they can't actually speak any language like Spaniards more or less, but Spanish lacks lots of common sounds, so it's quite hard for Spanish people to learn foreign languages
The Croats and the Serbs are probably the worst to speak English amongst the Slavic people partly because their languages have fewer phonemes than most slavonic languages
--- The Croats and the Serbs are probably the worst to speak English amongst the Slavic people partly because their languages have fewer phonemes than most slavonic languages ----
IMHO, that's better for them because if you have ever heard Russians or Bulgarians speaking English, you would prefer fewer phonemes. They make difthongs and put some sounds where they don't belong because they get used to them and then, English sounds to easy for their ears.
On the contrary, I've heard some Serbians and they sound pretty well.
IMHO, that's better for them because if you have ever heard Russians or Bulgarians speaking English, you would prefer fewer phonemes. They make difthongs and put some sounds where they don't belong because they get used to them and then, English sounds to easy for their ears.
On the contrary, I've heard some Serbians and they sound pretty well.
You are talking about pronounciation only but in order to speak proper English good syntax and rich vocabulary are also necessary. I think that speakers of non Germanic languages don't have advantages over others in order to speak English, not matter how rich or poor their native tongue's phonetic repertory is. The are much more important factos to consider: different education system, degree of exposure to English in mass media, and such.
I've always had great difficulty understanding English spoken by French people.
<<On the contrary, I've heard some Serbians and they sound pretty well. >>
Two of my brothers (cousins) are Serbian, and they speak English very well. Their accent is not really typical-Slavic sounding, but sounds real cool, and doesn't interfere with intelligibility.
Two of my brothers (cousins) are Serbian, and they speak English very well. Their accent is not really typical-Slavic sounding, but sounds real cool, and doesn't interfere with intelligibility.