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.

  • khannie@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    3 days ago

    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.

    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).

    • WindyRebel@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      2 days ago

      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.