Expert: New 'must learn' language likely to be Mandarin (overtakes English in importance by 2050)

AP ^ | Friday, February 27, 2004

[presidio9]

The world faces a future of people speaking more than one language, with English no longer seen as likely to become dominant, a British language expert says in a new analysis.

"English is likely to remain one of the world's most important languages for the foreseeable future, but its future is more problematic -- and complex -- than most people appreciate," said language researcher David Graddol.

[Cicero]

It's not the numbers, it's the worldwide spread and key positions. For instance, Hinduism has hundreds of millions of followers, but they are almost all in India. Christianity and Islam have had far more effect on history because of their worldwide distribution.

Similarly, there may be more Mandarin speakers than English speakers, but most of them are concentrated in China and the vast majority are peasants. If China conquers the world, then that may change, of course, but not likely otherwise.

[anniegetyourgun]

I don't have time to take it up. Besides, I'll be dead in 2050.

[al baby]

I hope not.
Bill Clinton is the father of the Chinese space program

[muir_redwoods]

English will replace all other languages eventually since it is already far larger than any other language, a half million word not counting technical jargon, three times as large as French which is second with 150,000 words. Largely this is due to English being an accepting language (unlike French) and we English speakers are more than happy to steal a useful phrase from another language if it suits our purpose. Also, I am told by my Chinese God-Children that Mandarin has only one tense; very limiting.

The utility of English is its real strength. It is a precise tool ideally suited to description and fine shades of meaning

[anniegetyourgun]

Well, if not dead, an old woman!

I really don't like to think of Bill Clinton in light of fathering.....

[anniegetyourgun]

The Greeks and Hebrews might argue with you on the utility question. But then, they are prone to argumentation.

[newzjunkey]

Learning a second language (Spanish, in my case, but I also attempted Japanese and German) was not my forte. Thankfully, I'll be damned near 80 in 2050 if I'm even around. I won't care if anyone understands me or not. :)

[PJ-Comix]

Even many Chinese don't speak Mandarin. Mandarin is nowhere near the global language that English is. For a second language I speak Spanish. Much more useful than Mandarin. Plus it uses the Latin alphabet.

[RightWhale]

It is a precise tool ideally suited to description and fine shades of meaning

Aha! Ah ha. Ha ha. Ha ha he he. Bwahahahehe . . .

[longtermmemmory]

Did you see the story about chineese obsession with learing english in time for their Olympic turn? They are even striving to learn to eliminate accents.

[rightwingcrazy]

I think they used to say the same thing about Japanese. Hard to predict so far into the future.

[al baby]

Old woman or young woman?

[zook]

Bu hau. Wo te Chongwen bu tai hau.

[Eala]

Xie xie.

[anniegetyourgun]

You can't fool me. I know all about these Rorschachs tests. How could one miss that drawing of two ostriches mating....

[azhenfud]

English is now being taught as a prerequisite in grade schools in China. Mandarin is being replaced by English-speaking citizens all over China.

[azhenfud]

Ni hue sho zhongwen ma?

[Mentos]

The language that will supercede English by 2050 will most likely be machine code

http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=/articles/art0134.html