Will a character based writing system stop Chinese becoming a global language?

“The inconsistencies and irregularities of English’s writing system show that linguistic properties alone do not determine whether a language becomes global,” Gil claims. “I conclude that a character-based writing system will not prevent Chinese attaining global language status.”

What makes Chinese written language unique?

In Chinese many different words are expressed by the identical sound pattern—188 different words are expressed by the syllable /yi/—while each of those words is expressed by a distinctive visual pattern. To make the script easier to read, a system of transcribing Chinese into the Roman alphabet was adopted in 1958.

Why is Chinese writing so different?

Chinese doesn’t have an alphabet The writing system is “logosyllabic”, meaning each character represents a syllable of spoken Chinese and can be a word by itself or combined with other characters to create another word. As you memorize more words, the speed at which you learn new words will compound.

Why do people think Chinese will become a global language?

The challenges involved in learning and using characters for foreign learners of Chinese have been well-documented. Proponents of this view seem to think that for Chinese to become a global language, everyone would need to learn to read and write, and do so to a native level of proficiency.

Is the writing system a part of China’s history?

It’s an irrevocable part of Chinese civilization and as much a part of China’s history as anything else. Chinese civilization is truly ancient, as is its writing system.

Why is the Chinese writing system better than the Latin alphabet?

The Chinese writing system requires more memorization, while the Latin alphabet requires more analysis and synthesis; both appear to be relatively optimal devices for the transcription of their respective, very different, languages.

Why can’t the Chinese write in more than one language?

On top of that, large swaths of the country are inhabited by people who even the Chinese will admit don’t speak Chinese. You obviously can’t write a single document for several completely different languages using a phonetic-based writing system, without having to translate everything you write into every one of the different languages.

How did the Chinese script change over time?

Following this, the Chinese script expanded into a number of regional variations and different styles. The person to unify them together was Qin Shi Huangdi, first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE). Under the Qin, Chinese characters were simplified and standardized, becoming a single script that was utilized across China.