This language uses less exhaled sounds, which reduces the risk of droplet projection, compared to English.
The new coronavirus is transmitted in many ways: by coughing, sneezing, breathing, but also by talking. Depending on the language used, the risk of expelling potentially contaminated droplets would not be the same. From russian researchers find that speaking Japanese would be less likely to project droplets, compared to English. The language of the Land of the Rising Sun uses far fewer exhaled sounds. However, the use of this kind of tone, to pronounce consonants like b, p or d, causes an expulsion of droplets.
A study on SARS
In this research, the scientists analyzed the SARS contaminations of American and Japanese tourists, staying in China, in 2000. They noticed that no Japanese tourist was sick, while they were more than three million to visit the country. Conversely, 70 American tourists were infected out of a total of two million travelers. For scientists, one of the main reasons could be the difference in language. In China, store staff can speak Japanese and English. So they spoke Japanese with the Japanese tourists and English with the Americans. It would be for this reason that the tourists were little contaminated during this stay.
Yelling is bad for your health
In addition to language, the way you speak can also play a role in the transmission of SARS-Cov-2 A study published in the British Medical Journal, in August 2020, analyzes the risks of transmission depending on the situation and the place in which you find yourself. The highest levels of risk relate to situations where one shouts. When the population density is high, the risk of transmission is high, particularly during prolonged contact. Speaking loudly also increases the risk of infecting loved ones.
Why was Japan less affected?
In Japan, other factors have brought the coronavirus outbreak under control. Valérie Niquet, director of the Asia division of the Foundation for Strategic Research, explained to France Info in May : “In Japan, we touch very little. Almost all doors are automatic. We wear a mask. We don’t kiss, even within our family. There is a very developed tradition of hygiene, which means that Japan has been spared from cholera. There are finally very few obese people, more vulnerable to the coronavirus1,442 people have died of Covid-19 in the country, out of a total population of 126 million. According to JapanTimesthere were 7 deaths per million inhabitants in Japan, compared to 829 for Belgium, 580 for Spain and 562 for Italy.
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