Talk: Does German sound aggressive and French romantic?

Talk: Does German sound aggressive and French romantic? Attitudes about languages and the truth behind them, by Prof. Sascha Stollhans

Tuesday 18th November 2025 at 5:30pm. Free. No booking required.  University of Leeds, Parkinson B.08.

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 attitudes 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.

Booking is not required for this event, however we encourage you to register your interest here.