Serious question

[Dazzler]

I'm not being flippant here, but is there any reason why people who speak African languages talk so loudly on public transport, whether in conversation, or when using mobiles. Is there a particular reason for this, is volume used to indicate anything special as intonation is in some other languages ? Any language students who can help, thanks in advance.

[bernardo]

I have been widely interested in languages and linguistics for many years, and I do not rememer ever coming across any references to the use of volume as an indication of meaning in the way that tone is. Nor do I ever remember noticing anybody speaking any particular language louder than any other.

[andy hughes]

I too have noticed that the Africans who live here do talk loudly when together. It may be that we notice it more because we don't understand what is being said - or it may be that they are used to being in large groups, and do not use the standard communication courtesies of Western society - waiting for someone to finish speaking before you begin - so the only way you ar heard is to talk louder than anyone else. This is in the nature of an educated guess, rather than fact, so I'd be interested in an actual reason, if there is one.

[GuavaHalf]

I would agree with Andy. Groups of people speaking a language you do not understand seem louder than a group speaking English simply because it is harder for you brain to ignore a sound it does not understand. This is my educated guess

[cheyenne]

its the same with foreign students,they all seem to talk louder.they must think the same about the british when we are abroad.so i agee with guavahalf and andy.

[ranor]

a small factor may be that there voices are genraly deeper than Europeans and sound that has a lower frequency(deeper) tends to travel further so it is easyer to hear.