Talk: Does German sound aggressive and French romantic?

Name: Talk: Does German sound aggressive and French romantic?
Start: 2025-11-18T17:30:00+00:00
End: 2025-11-18T18:30:00+00:00
Location: Parkinson Building B.10

Schedule

Tue Nov 18 2025 at 05:30 pm to 06:30 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Parkinson Building B.10 | Leeds, EN

When it comes to languages, we all have certain preferences and stereotypes. This lecture explores where these attitudes come from.
About this Event

Does German really sound aggressive? Why do some people find the sound of French romantic and sexy? And how about the friendly-sounding Geordies?

When it comes to language and languages, we all have certain perceptions, preferences and stereotypes. In this public lecture, we will explore where these at

titudes come from, why we have them, and if there is any truth behind them. You will learn how different accents work and how we interpret the way they sound. We will discuss the role of linguistics and psychology, as well as the influence of culture and the media. This public lecture is open to all. No prior knowledge of any language is required.

Sascha Stollhans is Professor of Language Education and Linguistics and Pro-Dean for Student Education (Arts, Humanities and Cultures) at the University of Leeds. He is an experienced language teacher and researches language teaching policy and linguistic diversity.