Slow down! (2024)

This week, guest blogger Robert Nurden looks at whether or not English people really ‘speak so fast.’ Many students say: “English people speak so fast. I can never understand them.” In fact, English is one of the slowest languages. On average, native speakers use 150 syllables a minute. But Spanish people go along at an amazing 300 syllables a minute. Japanese is another fast language. Mandarin is probably the slowest.

This is good news for people learning English. It means that if your mother tongue is one of the fast ones, you can slow down when speaking English. There are a number of reasons why English is spoken relatively slowly.

Firstly, English has 20 vowel sounds. This means that the mouth has to be in 20 different positions to make all those noises. That requires agility and takes time. The only way it can be done is by putting on the brakes. Spanish has just five vowel sounds, so it’s possible to go along at breakneck speed.

Secondly, the English stress system works very differently to that of other languages. When a syllable or word is stressed, it is stressed strongly. And the speaker will often talk slower just before it in order to give it extra emphasis.

Look at how this question is spoken (with the stressed words in italic type): “Excuse me [slow and stressed, followed by a pause while waiting for the listener to turn round], could you tell me how to get to the [fast] London Eye [slow and stressed], please?”

Other languages give more or less equal value to all the syllables in a word, which makes it possible to speak faster.

Thirdly, English uses a lot of pauses. Take this question and answer: “So, ........ how can we solve our overspending problem?” Answer: “Well, ....... we could cut back on advertising.” If you listen closely to English people, they will often extend the words “so” and “well” at the beginning of sentences for as much as three seconds, giving themselves time to think. This is quite normal and it is fine for students to adopt this practice.

So, the good news is that speaking English well does not mean speaking English fast. Ask yourself: why do we speak? There’s only one answer: to be understood. So, if speaking slowly helps you to be understood, do it! Remember: slow down!

Glossary

agility (n.) - the ability to move quickly and easily

to put on the brakes (exp.) – to slow down

at breakneck speed (exp.) – very fast

overspending (n.) – to spend too much money

to cut back on something (phr.v.) – to spend less money on something

Slow down! (2024)

FAQs

What does it mean if a girl wants to slow down? ›

There are many reasons why a person might want to take things slow, whether that's because they've been hurt before, want to gauge your compatibility, or need to assess what they truly want from a partnership right now.

What is the psychology of slowing down? ›

Rushed thinking may lead to bad decisions. Slowing down allows us to be more deliberate when considering our options. As Eknath Easwaran puts it: “By slowing down, we can train the mind to focus completely in the present. Then we will find that we can function well whatever the difficulties.

Why is it important to slow down? ›

Benefits of Learning to Slow Down

Additionally, slowing down can allow us to fully enjoy experiences and savor the moment rather than rushing through them. Overall, embracing a slower pace of life can lead to greater happiness, satisfaction, and overall well-being.

What does it mean to slow down in life? ›

It's not "being slow" that we're seeking necessarily. It's the feeling that we have time to do the things that matter. We can handle our daily tasks, we don't feel stressed, and we feel like we have the time to rest, be present, and enjoy the good things in life.

What does slow down mean in dating? ›

On the other hand, taking things slow means that he's interested, but he wants to know if this interest will continue to last—and that's a good thing if you also see your relationship with him in that perspective. Most men who just want a fling wouldn't talk to their partner that they want to take things slow.

How slow is too slow in dating? ›

However, there's also what we call “too slow.” It's when you find that your relationship is not moving forward for a very long time, or you feel like your partner is stalling, holding back, or always finding reasons to avoid moving forward.

Is slowing down a relationship good? ›

The good news is that there are ways to slow down the relationship to give it time to develop a strong foundation of commitment, love, and caring for each other. The first and most important aspect of slowing things down is to acknowledge to yourself that something does not feel right or balanced in the relationship.

What is the paradox of slowing down? ›

The Paradox of Pace refers to the counterintuitive concept that “slow and steady” in various aspects of life and work can lead to more effective, efficient, and sustainable productivity instead of constantly operating at high speed.

What is an example of slowing down? ›

Examples from Collins dictionaries

The car slowed down as they passed Customs. There is no cure for the disease, although drugs can slow down its rate of development. Damage to the turbine slowed the work down. You will need to slow down for a while.

How do you slow down mentally? ›

Try these tips for slowing down
  1. Set up some reminders for yourself to slow down– post-it notes, reminders on your phone, or whatever works for you.
  2. Try spending some time doing nothing, or as little as possible.
  3. Decrease your screentime.
  4. Go outside, or try forest bathing.
  5. Try meditation or mindfulness.
Aug 31, 2023

What happens if you slow down? ›

When you slow down, you're able to live a more mindful, intentional, and fulfilling life. So next time you feel like you're running on a hamster wheel, take a deep breath and slow down. Your mind and body will thank you for it.

What are the psychological benefits of slowing down? ›

It can lower your blood pressure and stress hormone levels, slow down your nervous system, increase your self-esteem, reduce your stress-level, reduce feelings of isolation and improve your mood. Before you enter a building, pause and take a breath while noticing the things around you.

What is another way for slow down? ›

Additional synonyms

Take it easy, man - you need to chill out. Let's take a break and just outspan for a while. He has been advised to rest for two weeks.

How do you slow down and simplify your life? ›

Here's how to do it.
  1. Do less. It's hard to slow down when you are trying to do a million things. ...
  2. Be present. It's not enough to just slow down — you need to actually be mindful of whatever you're doing at the moment. ...
  3. Disconnect. ...
  4. Focus on people. ...
  5. Appreciate nature. ...
  6. Eat slower. ...
  7. Drive slower. ...
  8. Find pleasure in anything.

What is another word for slowing down? ›

deceleration, decline, delay, downtrend, downturn, drop, drop-off, falloff, slackening, stagnation, strike.

What to do when a girl wants to slow down? ›

If she wants to take it slow it probably means she takes you very serious and is considering spending her life with you. Take your time, she actually may be the one you want to spend the rest or your life with.

How do you tell if a girl is slowly falling for you? ›

She may seek to spend more time with you, prioritizing your presence in her life. Increased emotional vulnerability is another indicator. As she's opening up and telling her thoughts, feelings, and vulnerabilities, it may indicate a growing level of trust.

What does it mean when a girl slows down texting you? ›

If a girl is slow in replying, it can be because she is not ready or interested enough to respond to your messages or if you are waiting for her reply too long, this is also normal. It does not necessarily mean that she isn't interested in you or anything.

Do girls fall in love slow? ›

According to dating experts John and David Bennett, “Women tend to assess feelings of love based on physical attraction along with other factors (including a potential partner's personality), which means it may take longer for a woman to 'warm up' to a potential partner, and the person can grow on her over time”.

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