speakability

Speakability is a concept in linguistics that refers to the ease or difficulty with which a language can be spoken by a non-native speaker. It is influenced by various factors, including the phonetic and phonological structure of the language, the complexity of its grammar, and the availability of language learning resources. Languages with a simple phonetic system, regular grammar, and a rich set of cognates (words that share a common origin) tend to be more speakable. For example, Spanish is often considered more speakable than Japanese due to its simpler phonetic system and regular grammar. Speakability is not the same as learnability, which refers to the ease with which a language can be learned by a non-native speaker, regardless of whether it can be spoken fluently. The concept of speakability is particularly relevant in the context of language acquisition, language teaching, and language planning. It can help inform decisions about which languages to teach or promote, and can guide the design of language learning materials and methods. However, it is important to note that speakability is not a fixed property of a language, but rather a dynamic construct that can change over time as languages evolve and as language learners develop.