Ten Reasons Why to Learn Chinese
1. Chinese is one of Sino-Tibetan languages, or more exactly it is a group of different dialects, including Mandarin (Putonghua) is one. In all there are more native speakers in China than in any other language. To put things in perspective, there are about 915 million speakers of Mandarin (including without any of the other dialects such as Cantonese), compared to Spanish, the fourth language spoken in the world with approximately 400 million speakers.
2. You do not learn Chinese characters to learn to speak Chinese. Pinyin is a method of writing Chinese in Roman alphabet. Hanyu Pinyin sorts sound, and includes brands tone to give the correct pronunciation.
3. Chinese literature. Dialects are not mutually intelligible, but the written language is shared by all. Even if you do not need to learn to read Chinese characters to speak the language, in so doing, you open the door to a very diverse and rich literature. In fact, the record for the oldest was written in Chinese characters although very different in the modern form of characters (which number several thousand).
4. The Chinese economy is the fastest growing economy in the world, and in the same working environment speaking a little Chinese will give you a competitive advantage, if your company invests in China or are considering doing so.
5. Language and culture are linked something and learning the Chinese language will give an assessment of the cultural heritage of China.
6. China is accessible to foreign visitors in a way that was not in past and Travel in China and is becoming easier, but to make the most of this opportunity to travel, language at an elementary level is important. Mandarin is spoken throughout China.
7. China is becoming increasingly important in the world of May and the dominant economic power in the not so distant future.
8. Food. You can eat in restaurants in tourist hotels, but if you want to see more of China, it is better to try the food and experience culture in the local restaurants.
9. In 2008, the Olympics are held in Beijing. In 2008, many foreign visitors will descend on China on the eve of the Olympics. This is an opportunity, if you’re lucky enough to be in, out of the lot being one of the few who has at least learned a few words of Mandarin.
10. Like any other language, it is possible to learn a few words and phrases in Mandarin, just to be polite without spending years in higher education. Mandomandarin would help.
Mike Cheng
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