Are some languages spoken faster than others?

Fast talking? Marcello Mastroianni and Sandra Milo in Fellini’s 8 1/2. Photograph: Channel 5

Are some languages spoken faster than others – eg Italian, Hindi etc – or does that just seem to be the case to the non-speaker?

Iain Macniven

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• The picture caption was changed on 27 November to correct a reference to “Fellini’s 8 1/2 Weeks”