English as the global language

[Randy W]

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from the Global Times

 

Chinese heat is on, but for how long?

 

It seems to be an encouraging sign that the enthusiasm for learning Chinese has continued to grow in recent years, a phenomenon that has even been dubbed "Chinese heat" by some Sinologists.

 

. . .

 

Chinese people are happy to find that their mother tongue is likely to become an international language. But is it possible that this heat will cool down someday?

This concern is not unfounded if we look at Chinese heat's predecessors. Russian heat, German heat and Japanese heat all swept the world at different times. But their fates are the same: A few years' craze couldn't prevent a final decline.

. . .

 

People should be aware that it is business rather than a love of Chinese culture that prompts Chinese heat. Chinese will have a hard time replacing or even keeping abreast of English as the global language. Its predominance can hardly be shaken simply by money. Perhaps we should ask ourselves if one day when the Chinese economy is not as strong as it is today, why would anyone learn Chinese?