Why do people think that talking louder and slower will make someone understand what they are saying when they speak a different language?

It works for me. I don’t understand some languages when they are spoken natively (fast, with abbreviations and slang). But if somebody takes the time to slow down and speak to me like I’m a bit thick, I’ll be more inclined to understand them. I’m not 100% fluent in some languages yet, so I do need it to be simply spoken to understand.

Listening to foreign language is almost like a kid listening to adults. If we speak slowly enough, emphesise on important thing, add body language or gesture, then our counterpart will likely to get the messages. :)

Very good answer!

Thank you, Renee. :)

From some of my Japanese friends, and even from other languages, the simple fact, is that the English language, to a foreigner, comes off as loud, abrupt, and as if you are talking very strict and fast. So, don’t include those in an answer :) Thats is just how we are percieved at times. Otherwise, Personally, I think loud speakers, want to tend to own, and overpower a conversation. The quiet person, unless its an old lady, never wins….. unless your in a library.

The slower talking most definitely helps, but speaking slower AND louder usually sounds like more of an insult. Once one person in a group starts it, everyone else joins for some reason, and they all start making that face where their eyebrows raise, their mouths seem to make a lot of “O”s, and I can’t concentrate on what they’re saying anymore because their arms are waving around. Then once everyone’s doing it, because they’re afraid you won’t be able to understand them and the first person is doing the right thing, it’s just like everyone’s talking down at you and then expecting some sort of reaction. Then they always sort of step sideways, peer at you from an angle and concentrate on your lips really hard, squinting and thinking they won’t be able to understand you either. Ehh anyway. Yes, speaking slower is helpful, but speaking louder, depending on the person, doesn’t usually help :P

LOL I’ve been in the navy for 2.5 years and been stationed in 3 countries and I see it all the time, It is because Americans subconsciously think that every one knows English and maybe they didn’t hear me or I said it to fast. but alot of the time it works