Mandarin has already been taught in some British colleges. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian
French has been the initial foreign language for the English given that the Norman Conquest. Should the English now switch their consideration to understanding Chinese? It would definitely be sensible for a lot more English individuals to know the language of the world’s second greatest economic climate, but it would also be foolish for England to quit learning the language of our nearest continental neighbour with whom we share centuries of typical historical past.
Many universities and some schools previously offer you Chinese for these who want to research it, and students currently make their alternatives. In truth, spoken Chinese is much less fearsome than its track record. College students get utilised to the 4 tones – where rising, falling or level intonation can alter the which means of a word – and cope reasonably well with the distinct assortment of consonants.
There are not several similarities amongst Chinese and European vocabulary, but in which it will get really difficult is the creating technique. There is no different to studying hundreds of characters to read even a easy text. This is why Chinese authorities designed an alphabetical equivalent, pinyin.
French, by contrast, employs the same alphabet as English, give or consider a handful of accents, and we share a great deal of very equivalent words even if they can at times have diverse nuances. Spoken French has its issues for English learners, including the rolled R and the pinched U, even though the French rather appreciate an English accent.
The troubles come with grammar functions such as the conjugations of verbs, genders and agreements. Chinese grammar seems far more straightforward in construction.
Ultimately, the actual challenge in finding out one more language is to comprehend the subtleties of that means, the complicated relationships and the cultural baggage it carries with it. This is the joy and the despair of studying a new language no matter whether it begins with bonjour or nihao.
Professor Mike Kelly, former Division for Education adviser on languages and head of modern day languages at the University of Southampton
French or Chinese? Whichever you learn, it"s cultural subtleties that count
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