Choose your favourite languages from around the world

<p>Please take the time to make a choice for every global region, instead of just sticking to familiar languages. If you go on Youtube (check out foreign language versions of Disney songs!), you can pretty much find examples of every language I've listed here. The last thing I want this thread to be is a survey restricted to only Europe and East Asia. My omission of African languages is due to my ignorance of their cultures, though anybody can comment on them if they'd like to. An explanation as why you chose the way you did would be appreciated as well.</p>

<p>EUROPE</p>

<p>West
1) Spanish
2) French
3) Italian
4) Portuguese</p>

<p>Central
1) German
2) Dutch
3) Danish</p>

<p>North
1) Norwegian
2) Icelandic
3) Swedish
4) Finnish</p>

<p>East
1) Russian
2) Czech
3) Polish
4) Turkish
5) Greek</p>

<p>ASIA</p>

<p>East</p>

<p>1) Chinese (Mandarin)
2) Chinese (Cantonese)
3) Korean
4) Japanese</p>

<p>South</p>

<p>1) Hindi
2) Urdu
3) Bengali
4) Tamil </p>

<p>Middle East</p>

<p>1) Arabic
2) Persian
3) Hebrew</p>

<p>Southeast</p>

<p>1) Tagalog
2) Vietnamese
3) Thai</p>

<p>Western Europe: Portuguese: Not as phlegmy as French, edgy as Spanish, or sing-songy as Italian. Plus, it has a mysterious Slavic hint to it.</p>

<p>Central Europe: Danish: Technically, it should be grouped with the Nordic languages, but I felt that that would unbalance the groups. Danish almost wins by default because German and Dutch are harsh languages.</p>

<p>Northern Europe: Icelandic: Very ethereal and mysterious, and it sounds softer than its related languages.</p>

<p>Eastern Europe: Russian: The de facto language of oppressive totalitarianism, but also of Pushkin and Tolstoy. It's brutal and romantic at the same time.</p>

<p>Eastern Asia: Korean: Nearly identical to Japanese in its smoothness, and much more pleasing than either major Chinese dialects. Wins over Japanese b/c of it is simpler (relatively speaking). </p>

<p>South Asia: Bengali: Actually, these languages were hard to get samples of, but I think I like Bengali the most. I don't know why.</p>

<p>Middle East: Persian: Less "chokey" than Arabic or Hebrew. I think it flows better.</p>

<p>Southeast Asia: Thai: Wins by default, as Tagalog and Vietnamese are not pleasant languages, IMHO.</p>

<p>EUROPE</p>

<p>West
2) French</p>

<p>Central
1) German</p>

<p>North
4) Finnish</p>

<p>East
4) Turkish</p>

<p>ASIA</p>

<p>East
4) Japanese</p>

<p>South
1) Hindi</p>

<p>Middle East
2) Persian (although I'd call it Farsi). Hard choice though because I love all semitic languages. Farsi though has alot of enigmatic, veiled words that aren't translated into English very well...that I love. </p>

<p>Southeast
3) Thai (because my throat hurts at hearing the other two)</p>

<p>EUROPE</p>

<p>West
Portuguese - only brazillian portuguese, though. I hate portuguese from portugal. If that doesn't count, then French is my favorite.</p>

<p>Central
Danish- German and Dutch are a little too harsh for me.</p>

<p>North
Swedish- It's nice and smooth.</p>

<p>East
Greek- This shouldn't be grouped with Russian (which I really don't like, by the way). It's a lovely language, though.</p>

<p>ASIA</p>

<p>East
Japanese-hands down.</p>

<p>South
I don't know enough about them to really choose.</p>

<p>Middle East</p>

<p>Hebrew- Arabic is too throat-y and Hebrew has really, really nice poetry. And an enchanting history, as it is one of the few languages that have actually "risen from the dead."</p>

<p>Southeast
3) Thai- I don't like Tagalog and Vietnamese isn't so nice, either.</p>