I've always loved the sound of Russian. There's a gravity and substance to it, but a melody too. Most people think French sounds prettier, but to me, French sounds like dessert, while Russian sounds like a proper meal.
I'd like to brush off my high school French. I feel like I've got a good foundation, if I had the time to build on it.
I agree about the German, which sounds like it was specifically designed for cruelty. And Mandarin (the Chinese I mostly hear in Boston) which is a linguistic head cold, all szhing and sneezing. It's no wonder they spit so often. You should see the sidewalks in Chinatown!
I wonder what English sounds like, to people who can't speak it?
Maybe check out a film, or a book in French? I found those help a lot, especially any activity that involves listening to the language.
I mean it's funny, but maybe it's also not a coincidence? Maybe harsh languages and harsh character are, in some way, connected? That'd be interesting to check out.
Hm, I think you're right about the Mandarin, from the little I've heard in movies - it sounds very harsh and aggressive.
There's something wonderfully poetic about this question.
For a while there, we actually started watching "Peppa Pig" translated into French on Youtube. Not the most challenging material, but it was satisfying to be able to understand some of what was being said!
I was working at the bookstore at the time, and my co-workers thought I'd lost it when we got a shipment of Peppa toys and I started speaking to them in French.
Ha! That's great. I think "not the most challenging material" is actually a lot better than really hard stuff. Because that usually just brow-beats you into thinking you don't understand anything.
Would they have been less bothered if you spoke to them in English, I wonder? Also, this is assuming they believed you to be sane to begin with. Bold statement :P