I read people say online that Americans are loud. What does this mean, exactly? Is it literal volume or is it our personality/presentation? Something else?
I may be moving to Australia because of my wife’s job, and I want to better understand this. I want to assimilate and I don’t want to be annoying. I’m personally pretty low key and listen more than speak, but this is my perception of myself.
I think it just means louder that most (but not all) of the other people. I didn’t think much of it until I had some American friends visit me and I took them to bar near where I live. I didn’t really noticed anything while we were all sitting together.
When I crossed the room to go to the bar for another round, then I noticed that I could clearly hear my American friends voices above everyone one else in the room. I could clearly hear their conversation from across the bar. They were just speaking somewhat louder than everyone else.
Very interesting!
Someone else made a comment that I found interesting which was about how Americans usually speak far apart compared with other cultures that lower their voices and lean in. It has me thinking about how much space we have here and the ingrained competition which makes us naturally speak louder.
Another thing after talking to my wife is that there are a lot of large American families and children vie for the attention of others, which means having to speak up and over their siblings which sort of trains us to be that way.
It’s all fascinating to me to think about. Thank you for your answer!
Mmmm, it’s a theory I suppose but I have a large family. Our dinner table is busy but not loud (except with raucous laughter which is semi frequently in fairness). Cross conversations go on all the time, it’s just the nature of lots of people at a table.
My own experience with American tourists is that it’s a volume thing. Interestingly I don’t recall noticing it as much while visiting the states but definitely slightly louder than other cultures.
Sounds like you won’t have any issue anyway.
Good luck with the move! I’ve never heard anyone come back from Australia with a bad word to say about it and lots of my fellow countryfolk do a year there (including my sister and bestie).
Thank you! I’m hoping we end up moving there because I loved my visit there a couple of years ago and I would love to be there always.