What if one day you wake up and open your television and all of the programs therein are in purely Mandarin? Your beautiful wife speaks in Mandarin while you are reading the Chinese characters in the headline newspaper? The keyboards in your laptop or desktop at home and even your cellphones are in Chinese characters. All these might happen considering the dominant population in the world is Chinese. We all knew that powerful countries like America, Great Britain, and many others are English-speaking countries.What if China becomes more powerful than the countries mentioned herein and insist Mandarin to be the international language will you study Mandarin? Would the entire world be in chaos? Well, the year 2020 in the title of this thread is just my idea (to catch your attention, since you are reading this, hahahah it means I already caught your attention, lol!).. what if it would happen in 2020, are you prepared? Actually, even some Chinese they have difficulties in knowing all the Chinese characters. One of my Chinese friend told me that she still prefers to watch movies in English subtitle than in Chinese. I have a story about my Malaysian-Chinese friend who never been to Chinese school. I thought it was a joke that this friend of mine had shared story about his family who never been into a Mandarin school. He decided to enroll his daughter to a reputable Chinese school. When they go out to enjoy the family day together he and his wife always ask their 6-year old daughter to read the Chinese characters in some Chinese stores and restaurants. Do not take this seriously instead I would appreciate your suggestions, lively comments, and your preparation if this would happen. I hope this would become a healthy discussion.
I hope that never happens, I can't learn Chinese, it has...many characters... I don't know how to speak my native properly, I have average English and I haven't master it for more than 15 years. I'm just thinking how much time will I need to master Chinese, the language that I've heard just 10 times in my life.
I dont think so. English works as main international languages for many years and it is hard to be replaced. However, i have to agreed that Chinese languages is getting more and more important And it is possible that RMB will replace Japanese Yuan as asia main currency, but no to replace english as international language
I don't think it would make much difference. As long as everyone can communicate, that is the issue. ...People have enough problems communicating with each other with the SAME language. I'm not likely to get myself a wife either, beautiful or not--I'm straight XD
Wooha! Chinese??? Man, I wound not be able to communicate and learn Chinese... if this ever happen - this will be a nightmare!