What is the most important language in the world?

Question

I am a Chinese. So i personally think that Chinese is the most widly spoken language in the world. The Chinese language is going to be the world's spoken language in the future. Any points and views. I also have a view that besides Chinese and English, the other languages in the world are not important at all. It's no use learning eg Tamil when that language is spoken by so little people.

Answer 1

The most important language is the language of Love

Answer 2

Answering from the U.S. here: I think you may be right, Chinese is probably spoken by the most people--at least as their native language. I also agree it may become the most widely spoken language all over the world in the future. But right now perhaps more people speak English, at least as a second language, than all the billions of people who speak Chinese in China--speaking of people worldwide, I mean. Here's what some say is the biggest problem with Chinese becoming the international language in the future: computers. There is no Chinese alphabet that is easily used on computers, and the same is true for Japanese, Korean, etc., I hear. Do you agree with that statement? And see how this would affect the possibility of Chinese replacing English as the leading international language in the future? But some linguists say that Chinese really is the most highly-evolved language, so people who love languages will look forward to learning it. By the way, your English is very good, if you don't mind if I say so.

Answer 3

Linguistically and culturally speaking all languages and dialects are equally important and we should cherish each and every one.

I do not think Mandarin Chinese will become THE world language because it is not widely spread around the world. Its speech community is mostly centered in China. However it will increase in its important for trade and commerce. You can see many Chinese-studies departments opening up all across universities in Europe.

At the moment for science, entertainment, commerce and technology (...etc) English is the world language. It is not omnipresent but it is still extremely hard to avoid.

Personally I believe languages such as English, Mandarin and Spanish will grow in importantance as regards trade.

That's why we need to protect all the other thousands of languages so we don't lose them. In the end language loss and language homogenisation is ACTUALLY bad for progress because when we loose a language we loose all the accumulated knowledge that the language's speech community has acquired over the hundred or thousands of years. English has been enriched by borrowing terms from other languages. When those languages are gone the language will not be able to borrow any more.

For example just look at the pharamacutical industry. Every week we learn more about our natural world and how we can harness it for the betterment of medical treatments. We get this knowledge directly or indirectly from tribal cultural who have made use of this knowledge for thousands of years.

Answer 4

I think English is the most important language in the world, as almost every computer programming language works with the english character set, and English is not so difficult a language to be learned. You put Chinese in front; but then, why didn't you mention Russian, or Korean? I think the Latin alphabet is defintiely in front, and other Alphabets will never rule over it. It's as simple as we need it, and the English language has proven to be able to be THE world language that can be widely understood and spoken. If I can speak and write English, and you understand me, that's proof enough for me. (I'm from the country that went out 2nd in the European soccer championships.)

Answer 5

It depends on how you define 'important'. If you mean that a lot of people speak it, then Chinese is the most important. If you mean that a language has been very influential in world history, then you have to include English. Spanish and Portuguese are spoken by many people in South America, and they have also been historically important. The same applies to other colonial languages, e.g. French in Africa.

Some languages have almost died out, but then have been revived when their people became politically important, e.g. Hebrew. It would never be wise to say that a language is unimportant - it will always be important to its own speakers. However, the choice of whether to learn a language or not depends on your own judgment of its usefulness to you at the time.

Answer 6

Many people from all over the world will visit this site to discuss which is more important -- Mandarin or English. If this site were in Mandarin, nobody would visit it except Mandarin speakers. As for Mandarin becoming a global language in the near or distant future, well, that is unlikely. Everybody in Southeast Asia seems to dislike the Chinese. I was a teacher in Thailand, and even Chinese-Thais had little to no interest in learning Mandarin.The Japanese hate the Chinese and don't want to learn their language. India, with over a billion people, will never deign to learn Mandarin as China is considered an enemy nation. Chinese tourists alienate everybody with their appalling behavior. Chinese music and movies totally suck. Learning mandarin is a near lifetime commitment. Indeed, if I need a good laugh, I read opinions from those whom believe Mandarin will become a global language.

Answer 7

The most important language in the world, is the one that I speak. I (me), viewing this question as what is most important to me. And as you are reading....English.

I am business savy, and I do NOT see the Chinese nor Japanese, nor any of those languages that I have not one iota how to speak coming over and changing my world. At least not while I, nor my children are alive.

I mean, looking at Chinese written......makes me think I am drunk. I don't know how all these Americans are going to learn THAT language, when it is clear, that Spanish/Mexican is the next language to know at the present time.

I always have the opportunity to speak Spanish here in American. I have NEVER even 'bowed' to a Chinese person.

You did say ANY points and VIEWS.

Y, Igles, y Espanol son las muy importante. Nessicito saber un poco Espanol en los Estados Unidos. Hacer MUCHO personas que no saber Ingles.

At least the Chinese know English.

Sign Language would be PERFECT for everyone to know.

Just a thought.

Answer 8

Body Language

Answer 9

The most important language in the world to anyone would be the language with which they can effectively communicate. Right now The English language is effectively known in most countries of the world. Where ever you go, you can count on it that someone, somewhere knows a little English.

Answer 10

There are over 4000 languages in the world. The most important languages are those with which you can communicate with the most people in different countries. At the moment, the two languages that allow you to do this are English and Spanish.

There are many languages in China, the two main languages being Mandarin and Cantonese. Neither is widely spoken outside China but this will change in the next twenty years or so. At the moment, the east Asian language with the widest acceptance is Japanese but, again, this will change over time.

English will continue to dominate as the lingua franca of the world for the foreseeable future but one or more of the Chinese languages will increase in importance.

Answer 11

China has the largest population in the world, and China is a rapidly developing country. In the future, Chinese can be one of the most important languages in the world, you see, more and more people are learning Madarin, mainly for doing business or teaching in China. This is not joking, but reasonable thinking. But let's face it, the most important language now is English.