Exotic is an interesting adjective in some ways. Yes, because it expresses a value that is totally subjective, which derives from the perspective of the beholder. So while we define a country like the Maldives as exotic, we in turn can be exotic for Thais. The Greek word from which this term derives, in fact, literally means foreigner, he who comes from outside; only around the sixteenth century does this adjective also begin to take on the nuance of meaning, semantics, of “strange”.
This premise is fundamental for the journey that we face together today between some of the languages that may be more exotic, more bizarre to our eyes. Another fundamental premise is that “there is nothing obvious in languages“; to report it is Marina Castagneto, professor of linguistics at the University of Eastern Piedmont, as well as our special guide on this adventure. Yes, what we take for granted, what we consider indispensable for any language, may in fact not be.
“Almost all languages in Europe are related and consequently full of shared linguistic and cultural traits; but some of these are in fact rare compared to the rest of the languages of the world ». Among the various levels of language analysis, the phonetics, who studies the sounds we use when we speak, reserves some surprises. So let’s start our journey from here. In general in the world there are approx 600 consonants and 200 vowels. An enormity of which the Italian exploits a limited percentage with its 7 vowels and 23 consonants. “Ours is an overall average phonological system” confirms Castagneto.
But the languages of the world draw on this pool of sounds differently. In Papua New Guinea, for example, we speak the rotokas, in which there are only 11 phonemes, that is 11 sounds capable of distinguishing the meaning of words, of which six are consonants. Heading into Africa, instead, we encounter languages that are at the opposite end from a quantitative point of view. This is the case with the ! erase that even matters 117 consonants (and we confuse the m and the n sometimes). This language also appeals to many click, sounds that can resemble a snap of the tongue. Technically we speak of “consonants of thejectives” and just like ours t, they can end up in the midst of other verbal sounds in a word. Think, there are languages that come to use over forty consonants of this type.
To get a better idea of what we are talking about, you can listen to the Click song by Miriam Makeba in the following video (but if you pay attention you will also hear them in the more famous «Pata Pata»). If you want to continue the journey with us, click on gallery above where, again thanks to the help of Professor Castagneto, you will find other curiosities about some extraordinary languages.
(In the photo a resident of Papua New Guinea; unsplash.com).
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