An Introduction of Chinese Language.ppt

jc/10/10 An Introduction of Chinese Language Special Acknowledgements Lisa Nolting Jackie Wicks Teachers of Mandarin immersion program Why Learn Mandarin? One fifth of the planet speaks Chinese. Mandarin Chinese is the mother tongue of over one billion people, making it the most widely spoken first language in the world.? Why Learn Mandarin? Chinese culture is over 5000 years old.? By learning the Chinese Language, you will learn another culture. Learning a language gives you a better understanding through the grammar and even how the words are derived of the culture behind them. Why Learn Mandarin? China is one of the largest trading partners of the United States. To take advantage of this huge economic shift and opportunities, learning to speak Chinese is a great way to give our children an advantage in the increasingly competitive business world. The Languages in China Chinese Language in China The language of the Han people, the major ethnic group of China. Spoken by over one billion people Approximately 95 percent of the Chinese population Non-Chinese Languages in China The languages of Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygur, Miao, Korean and other 53 minorities, except Hui and She. Majority Chinese-speaking population is in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Substantial numbers are also found throughout the southeast Asia, especially in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Important Chinese-speaking communities are also found in many other parts of the world, especially in Europe, North and South America, and the Hawaiian Islands. Chinese Language and its dialects Spoken Chinese comprises many regional dialects. Each dialect group consists of a large number of sub-dialects. The boundaries between one so-called dialect and the next are not always easy to define. Most Chinese speak one of the Mandarin dialects, which are largely mutually intelligible. Chinese Language and its dialects Mandarin language group forms the largest group. The Mandarin group c