About Chinese
Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the
world.
More people in the world speak Chinese than English and Spanish
combined. The number of people who are learning Chinese as
a second-language is increasing very rapidly. It is also the
second-most-common language on the Internet.
Modern Standard Chinese (also known as Mandarin, Putonghua
or Guoyu) is spoken in the People's Republic of China and
Taiwan, and increasingly so in Hong Kong. Chinese is a language
of major international importance. It is also one of the official
languages of the United Nations.
 Chinese
culture is both rich and far-reaching. China has a recorded
history of over 3,000 years and shares a rich cultural heritage
with other important Asian cultures such as those of Japan,
Vietnam and Korea.
China is important to New Zealand's future. For economic,
political and cultural reasons, New Zealand's involvement
with China and more broadly with Asia and the Pacific is desirable,
inevitable and irreversible. Links between New Zealand and
Chinese-speaking countries and regions are rapidly growing.
Learning Chinese provides access not only to China's fast-growing
econony but also to many other newly industrialised economies
in Asia, where Chinese is widely spoken. It is crucial that
New Zealanders know more about China, understand its culture,
history, political and economic system. Learning Chinese language
is an essential first-step towards this understanding.
Learning Chinese enables you to truly appreciate Chinese
culture - e.g., access original literary or philosophical
texts, as well as Chinese art, film and media.
Learning Chinese permits you to access original Chinese documents
(which are often not available in English translations) in
your chosen profession (law, medicine, business, information
science, news, etc.)
Learning Chinese improves employment opportunities in business,
immigration and education, to mention only a few professional
areas, in the 21st century.
Learning Chinese at Otago University allows you to study
this fascinating and immensely useful Asian language within
the supportive environment of the Department of Languages
and gain the opportunity to continue your studies in China
via a number of scholarships and exchange programs.
So, the real question might not be 'why should you study Chinese?'
but rather 'why are not you already studying Chinese?'
Enquiries: (64 3) 479 9032
Department Email: languages@otago.ac.nz
Department Fax: (64 3) 479 8689
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