Why Study Chinese Language
Brief Introduction
The study of the Chinese language (Mandarin) opens the way to different important fields such as Chinese politics, economy, history or archaeology. But to study Chinese broadly means to study culture, and people. Remember that China is one of the world’s oldest and richest continuous cultures, over 5000 years. Chinese civilization is its rich heritage of novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and film these makes Chinese language popular as well as interested language. The language itself reflect the values, the struggles, the sensibility, the joys and the sorrows of great people and often offer insights even into the most intimate feelings of people in the past or into high-level that cannot be found anywhere else. The present article helps you to understand what is behind the language, what makes it powerful, and how it actually functions in Chinese society and elsewhere. To be at ease and effective in Chinese environment learning the language is half the battle, but knowing about the culture behind the language is the other. China is the second largest economy in the world and is one of largest trading partners of the United States. Currently, many US or western companies do their business in China and have long-term investments. Chinese language may help anyone from everywhere in the world to better live, study or work in China. Once you learn Chinese Language; you will directly join more that 1.28 billion people who use Chinese. Be among the people who can speak the most widely spoken first language in the world.
Reasons to learn Chinese Language
Below are some reasons why Chinese language is becoming increasingly important for everyone
It is the most widely spoken language on Earth.
China is becoming a major player in the world's economy, and it is predicted that in some years it will become the world's biggest economy surpassing the U.S.
Mastering Chinese language will enhance your CV/resume for future employers. Being able to speak Chinese in a working environment will certainly give you a competitive edge.
Having acquired basic Mandarin skills becomes very useful when traveling around China
Knowing Mandarin is a gateway to immerse you into one of the oldest and most fascinating cultures in the World and to be able to appreciate its vast cultural heritage.
Being able to interact with Chinese locals is a great opportunity to discover a new culture, different values and lifestyles. This of course is true with all languages around the world, but China's recent history and the change its people have seen is unique.
Business wise, knowledge in Chinese is very helpful when doing business in China and helps build better relations with Chinese partners.
Learning a foreign language like Chinese which is completely different to one's own mother tongue, speaking it and reading its characters is simply rewarding and gratifying.
Is Mandarin Difficult?
There is no doubt that written Chinese is difficult to learn and takes time to know it, sometime even for the Chinese people. But the spoken Chinese language is a different kettle of fish.
In many ways, Mandarin Chinese is much easier to learn than any other western languages. Here are some features which make Mandarin easy:
no subject/verb agreement
no plurals
no conjugations
no tenses
simple numbering system which is applied to dates and time expressions
simple conditional sentences
simple prepositions
In fact, Chinese language has a relatively uncomplicated grammar. Chinese has no noun declension (e.g., gender and number distinctions). First example, in English you need to learn different verb forms like “see/saw/seen,” while all you need to do in Chinese is just to remember one word: kan. Second example in English you have to distinguish between “cat” and “cats,” in Chinese there is only one form: mao.
The basic word order of Chinese is subject, verb and object, exactly as in English language. A large number of the key terms of Mandarin Chinese (such as the terms for state, health, science, party, inflation, and even literature) have been formed as translations of English concepts. You are entering a different culture, but the content of many of the modern key concepts is familiar.
Chinese language could be important for your career in different ways:
International businesses prefer to hire people who speak more than one language. China has become a huge market, and business leaders are looking for people who can speak Chinese and operate successfully in a Chinese cultural context.
Knowing Chinese may give you an edge when competing for an important position.
China will play a major role in world affairs in the future. As China now has opened up to the West, there are opportunities for employment in all areas.
China is a wonderful country in which to teach English while leaning your second language (Chinese) and cultural skills.
The study of Chinese language as well as culture will help you bridge the cultural gap, better understand your Chinese counterparts, create a platform of knowledge and help for effective communication which is crucial for everyone.
