In his humorous take on language, J. Maarten Troost points out that humans are limited in their ability to produce a vast array of unique sounds, humorously noting the inclusion of unusual sounds like belching. This observation leads him to explore the complexity of languages, particularly Chinese, which incorporates tones that make it especially challenging for non-native speakers to learn and comprehend.

Troost suggests that these tonal elements are deliberately complex, possibly as a means to maintain the uniqueness of the language. The implication is that understanding Chinese is extraordinarily difficult for foreigners, especially those beyond a certain age, due to the intricate nature of its sounds and tones, which adds layers of challenge to the learning process.