Originally Posted by
Arthur Scharrenhans
The centum/satem isogloss isn't considered especially relevant nowadays. It's clear enough that satemization was a relatively recent sound change that propagated in a wave-like fashion from the center of the IE-speaking area but didn't reach the Eastern- and Westernmost languages. Other, more important isoglosses cut through the centum-satem border. Greek for example is much more closely related to Indo-Iranian than to Italic.
Back on topic: to me Russian sounds just like... Russian - I mean, it's one of those foreign languages whose (stereotypical) sound one learns as a little child even if he doesn't actually speak a word of it, so it's a bit difficult to judge it with some detachment.
Anyway, it is pleasant enough to my ears, probably more than other Slavic languages; neither too harsh nor too soft, vaguely menacing but in a sensual way.
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