asia – Info Cafe

Learning Chinese opens doors to understanding a rich and ancient culture and a language that is increasingly relevant in our globalized world. Mandarin Chinese, the most widely spoken language in the world, boasts over 1.1 billion native speakers, primarily in China, Taiwan, and Singapore, along with Macao, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia (worlddata.info). Mandarin Chinese is also spoken in at least 21 other countries as a mother tongue by a part of the population. The Wu and Min dialects of Chinese each have upwards of 80 million native speakers, and both languages are only spoken in Taiwan and some regions of China. There are many vibrant Chinese-speaking communities or “Chinatowns” across the world, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and Madagascar (worldpopulationreview.com).

The history of the Chinese language dates back over 4,000 years, with the earliest written records found on oracle bones from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE). Over centuries, the language evolved through various stages, including Old Chinese, Middle Chinese, and Modern Standard Chinese. The development of a standardized written form, based on the Beijing dialect, was a significant step in unifying the languages spoken in China – a family of dialects with significant regional variations. Mandarin, the official language of China, is the most widely spoken, with approximately 70% of the population using it as their primary language. Other major dialects include Cantonese (spoken in Guangdong province and Hong Kong), Wu (including Shanghainese), Min (including Hokkien), and Xiang. Each dialect has its own unique phonetic, lexical, and grammatical features, and many are not mutually intelligible (fluentu.com). Other than in China, the Chinese language is spoken in 21 other countries as a mother tongue by at least a part of the population including many neighboring countries in Asia and surrounding regions (listed above), but also further south to Australia and New Zealand and parts of Oceania. The language is also spoken in Chinese communities or “Chinatowns” across the world, including in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom and other locations in Europe, along with a small number of countries in Central and South America as well as some African nations like Nigeria and Madagascar.

In the United States, approximately 3.5 million people speak a form of Chinese, including Mandarin and Cantonese, making it the third most spoken language in the country (after English and Spanish). The Chinese speaking population of the U.S. is highly concentrated in the New York (549,000), Los Angeles (399,000) and San Francisco (334,000) metro areas (Census.gov). Chinese has influenced various aspects of society, particularly in areas with significant Chinese-speaking populations. Chinese Americans have established schools and cultural institutions to preserve language and heritage. Additionally, the growing economic and political ties between the U.S. and China have increased the demand for Chinese language skills in business, diplomacy, and academia. This trend reflects the broader global importance of Chinese as a key language in international relations and commerce.

In Iowa, there are approximately 6,600 speakers of Chinese, mostly in cities like Des Moines, Ames, and Iowa City, as well as Cedar Rapids, indicating a growing population particularly in areas with academic institutions and businesses with an international footprint (Language Map Data Center). There are several colleges and universities in Iowa that offer Chinese Language Programs as well as a number of student associations with a focus on China and Chinese culture. In Johnston, Iowa, just northwest of Des Moines, the Iowa Chinese Language School (ICLS) offers Chinese language classes and cultural activities for ages 4-adult, focusing not just on the Chinese language but also aspects of Chinese culture like art, dance, and sports, for a well-rounded learning experience. Iowa is also home to the Chinese Culture Center of America (cccaiowa.org) and the Chinese Association of Iowa (iowachinese.us), which offers a connection to various events including Chinese New Year celebrations in the region. And, the Iowa City Area Chinese Association is active on Facebook.

In Scott County, there are fewer than 500 speakers of Chinese, with about 130 speakers of the language residing in Davenport (IowaDataCenter.org). Davenport even has a “sister city” relationship with Langfang, China. Des Moines, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids also have Chinese “sister cities”. Beyond Davenport, but in the Quad Cities region, Augustana College offers a Chinese minor and Asian Studies major, including four years of language instruction. Rivermont Collegiate (Upper School/High School) in Bettendorf has offered Chinese language classes to its students since 2003. And, recently, Muscatine High School began offering a Chinese language (Mandarin) class as well.

Learning Chinese offers numerous benefits. Professionally, it can enhance career opportunities in international business, diplomacy, and translation, especially given China’s significant role in the global economy. Culturally, it provides access to a vast array of literature, philosophy, and art, enriching one’s understanding of Chinese heritage. Additionally, as China continues to expand its influence, proficiency in Chinese can facilitate communication and collaboration in various fields. With millions of speakers both globally and within the United States, including Iowa, and a rich tapestry of dialects to explore, the Chinese language offers a unique and rewarding linguistic journey that will give you a strategic skill in an interconnected world.

Would you like to explore learning Chinese? Check out some of the FREE resources available to you at The Library. See our online catalog or ask a Librarian for more resources.

FOR A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO THE LANGUAGE:

Get started in Mandarin Chinese

How to learn Chinese : without even trying!

Mandarin Chinese the easy way

FOR A MORE LAID-BACK APPROACH:

Chinese stories for language learners : a treasury of proverbs and folktales in Chinese and English

Chinese short stories for beginners : 20 captivating short stories to learn Chinese & grow your vocabulary the fun way!

IF YOU ARE A VISUAL LEARNER:

Mandarin Chinese picture dictionary : learn 1,500 key Chinese words and phrases

Hanmoji handbook: your guide to the Chinese language through emoji

Chinese-English Bilingual visual dictionary

Chinese character writing

Chinese characters : learn & remember 2,178 characters and their meanings

Learning Chinese characters

MORE COMPREHENSIVE LANGUAGE COURSES:

Beginner’s Chinese

Essential Chinese grammar : write and speak Chinese like a native!

And, as a Davenport Public Library cardholder, you have FREE access to the language learning program, Mango Languages. Please check back for more resources including a more complete language learning course (in book form) for Chinese that will soon be added to our collection. In the meantime, Mango Languages is a great place to start.

FOR THOSE WHO PLAN TO TRAVEL:

Traveler’s language guides. Mandarin

Rough Guide Mandarin Phrasebook

Lonely Planet Mandarin phrasebook & CD : read, listen and practise

Chinese PhraseFinder and dictionary

Cantonese Chinese phrasebook & dictionary

NEXT MONTH… LEARN A LANGUAGE — Part 10 — ESL

Not surprisingly, Japan is home to 99% of first-language Japanese speakers. But, as is the case with most languages, the Japanese language is not limited to the people of the archipelago nation. Japanese (also known as Nihongo) is the 9th most spoken language in the world with about 126 million speakers. There are another 5 million people outside of Japan who speak Japanese with some proficiency (todaytranslations.com). At least part of the populations in a number of countries and about 18 territories speak the language including in the United States, the Philippines, and Brazil. Japanese is also spoken in other parts of Asia and the Pacific: Guam, American Samoa, People’s Republic of China, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Australia. Japanese speakers can also be found in Canada, Mexico, and Europe – notably the United Kingdom – and many major world cities have Japanese speaking communities as well (worlddata.info).

The origins of the Japanese language are not fully understood. It is believed that Japanese began to emerge and develop into its own unique language somewhere between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC when the Yayoi people migrated from the Korean peninsula to the Japanese islands. The language was exclusively oral until contact with China in the 4^th century and the development of the Kanji writing system. Chinese characters were adapted, expressing Japanese words as well as grammatical elements. This led to the further development of both the Hiragana and Katakana kana writing systems, both around the 9^th century (dynamiclanguage.com).

In the United States, there are nearly a half million Japanese speakers, mainly concentrated in the states of California (141k), Hawaii (45k), New York (35k), Washington (26k), and Texas (18k). However, Hawaii has the highest percentage of Japanese speakers with about 17% of Hawaiian residents speaking it at home (statisticalatlas.com). While not as commonly spoken in Iowa as are Spanish, German, or Chinese, Japanese is also spoken here. Japanese affiliated organizations in Iowa, such as the Japan America Society of Iowa (JASI), offer language and cultural programs including drumming workshops and demonstrations (Soten Taiko) and even a Japanese language school (Kanaijuku) for both beginners and advanced learners. The Iowa State Japanese Association (Japanese Club) offers language and cultural programs as well. And, the University of Iowa supports a four-year Japanese program offering comprehensive language classes and courses in linguistics, communications, visual culture, popular culture, literature, film, theater, and translation. There is even a Kimono club which gives those interested in Japanese traditional wardrobe an opportunity to share their interests through fashion shows and workshops. Annual events such as Anime demo ii and Tanabata (star gazing festival) are also popular cultural activities.

While there are not very many Japanese speakers in Davenport or Scott County, there are many reasons to consider learning the language. In the US alone, there are nearly 162,000 people learning the Japanese language (babble.com). This includes almost 67,000 students in higher education, along with another 56,000 in grades K-12 (asiasociety.org). According to nippon.com, there were nearly 3,800,000 students worldwide learning Japanese in 2021. Popular culture has spurred the interest in all things Japan. From Anime series to catchy J-pop tunes, there are many intriguing reasons to explore the unique Japanese language and culture.

Would you like to give the Japanese language a try? Try some of the FREE resources available to you at The Library as you begin (or continue) learning Japanese. See our online catalog or ask a Librarian for more resources.