Language
Gung Ho for Chinese Loanwords
Albert Creak | November 17, 2006
Words “borrowed” from other languages are called loanwords. Everyone is familiar with English loanwords from French (ballet, champagne), German (blitz, kindergarten), and even Japanese (karaoke, kamikaze), but how many Chinese loanwords can you think of, and do you know their sources? Everyone knows mahjong and kung-fu come from Chinese, but I’d venture not many would list ketchup or yen (as in to crave, or a craving) as among the English language’s many Chinese loanwords. More
Why You Shouldn't Learn Chinese
Steven D. Quinn | October 6, 2006
The cover of the June 26, 2006 issue of the Asian edition of Time Magazine reads, “Get Ahead! Learn Mandarin!” The feature article narrates the tale of three Japanese businessmen who have given up nights at their favorite drinking spot for evening Mandarin classes. When asked why they’ve decided to study Mandarin, one of the salarymen vaguely replies, “We sort of unanimously agreed that Chinese would be a useful skill to acquire.” This sentiment mirrors a widely held view among up and comers in South Korea, Japan, and the West—the next twenty to thirty years belongs to China, and those who master Mandarin will be well positioned to participate in the Chinese economic juggernaut. If you’re thinking along the same lines, there are a few questions you need to consider. More