The Next "It" Language: Mandarin Chinese?

I have spent a little bit of time studying Mandarin Chinese. I think it's an intriguing language just because it is so different from English. Of course, that's also one of its drawbacks. The grammar is somewhat simple, but it also has its mind-bending quirks. I remember when I was studying it thinking that I must be constructing my sentences wrong because the thought I wanted to express couldn't possibly be expressed so simply. Then I was hit by this rule that I thought was bizarre, such as the fact that they use different words for "or" depending on the context. The tones, as well, are likely to trip people up, at least at first. And learning to read and write also has the reputation for being incredibly difficult. (I never made the effort to learn the writing sytem, simply because it's such a huge undertaking. Perhaps someday soon.)

However, is all of this difficulty in learning the language worth it? I believe so. Even now, learning Mandarin Chinese is seen as a great accomplishment by most people, and I would think it can't help but open doors for anyone who takes it on, due to China's ascendancy in the world.

The Next "It" Language: Spanish?

I've never studied Spanish officially, but I have studied the related language of French, and I am able to read Spanish at a rudimentary level just based on what I know from French and English. I get the feeling it would be relatively easy for me to pick up, as it would for most people who have studied another Romance language such as French, Italian, or Portuguese. The pronunciation is not hard based on what I know. It seems to me that the trilled "r" is probably the hardest sound for a native English speaker to make. Obviously, it is a useful language if you live in the Western Hemisphere since there are numerous Spanish speakers living on this side of the world. There is also a great wealth of learning material both online, in bookstores, and in libraries. It would seem to be a good linguistic investment. The one reservation I have is that due to its immense popularity as a foreign language, there might actually end up being a glut of people who know Spanish.

The Next "It" Language

After English, what is the world's "it" language? I'd be hard-pressed to argue that it isn't Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, or Arabic, and I'd personally lean towards Mandarin just because China is making such strides economically and most likely will continue to do so. I have at least a tiny bit of familiarity with all of these languages (meaning I know at least a word or two and have some idea of the grammatical structure), and I think an exploration of the pros and cons of studying each one for those who want to increase their linguistic knowledge is in order in the next few posts. I'll start with Spanish.

On the Utility of French

I've been studying French for more than half my life (since about age thirteen). I studied it in all four years in high school and then kept up with it for most of the time I spent in college. I have only rarely had the occasion to use it. When I can use it, I'm told I'm a good speaker, although I don't always feel that that's the case when I'm in the thick of a conversation. I have often wondered if I should have taken Spanish instead (although I can read Spanish rather well for never having studied it), but I feel that mastering French might have some psychological benefit beyond immediate utilitarian reasons. Being comfortable in French, which is seen as a relatively difficult language for English speakers to master (mainly due to the pronunciation peculiarities and the grammar), could give an aspiring polyglot enough confidence to take on studying other foreign tongues that might be easier. Even if you're not an aspiring polyglot, learning any foreign language is an accomplishment, especially one that has the reputation that French does. So, is French useful? I think the answer to this is probably yes, even if the reasons it is useful are not so immediately obvious.

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Welcome to my language and linguistics blog. On this site I will be discussing everything from language pedagogy to translation to how to use linguistics in daily life to my own weird linguistic- and language-related musings. This blog is for all fans of language and words. Enjoy!