![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/photo1-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo via Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n The German Stereotype<\/b><\/p>\n Many people claim that German is a harsh and unromantic language. Why choose to learn it when you can wax poetic on topics of passion and love in French, right? But why is it exactly that German tends to sound this way to us English speakers, while we find French to be smooth, easy listening? Well, linguists say that when people talk about \u2018harsh\u2019 sounding languages, they\u2019re usually referring to tongues that make sounds using the back of the vocal track. This can result in a more throaty, guttural noise which gives the language a stronger sound which others don\u2019t seem to have. Dutch and Malay are examples of languages that, like German, have this feature and as a result can appear angrier sounding to those who don\u2019t speak or understand them.<\/p>\n Learning German? Try our <\/b>free German placement test<\/b><\/a> to see how your level measures up! <\/b><\/p>\n However, you may be surprised to discover that German often gets stereotyped as a \u2018hard\u2019 language due to the perspective of those listening to it. French has quite a few of the same guttural sounds that German does, and yet you\u2019d be hard pressed to find anyone who would claim French is a harsh tongue. This is partially due to the many stereotypes that surround each language. French have long been \u00a0typecast as extraordinary lovers<\/a> and the language has held the title of the \u2018language of love\u2019 for decades. \u00a0When we think of Germans, on the other hand, we tend to stereotype them as rigid rule followers with a penchant for beer and sausage. Our perception of each culture is what colors how we hear the languages and why we often claim German has a much harsher tone.<\/p>\n