The Man that Must Change China (recent Economist essay)

[Schemer]

Well keep in mind that no native speaker would be likely to ever vary far from the most common form of "walk". When stuff like that makes you balk at a language, it helps to take a trip to the thesaurus and gain some perspective from your own language. 

That's 200 ways for the one word for walk, if I'm looking at the page correctly. I can't read Finnish and so maybe one of the many Finns on TW can correct me on this if I'm wrong. Looks really confusing, especially considering Finnish isn't similar to any other language.

If you are looking for a beautiful and practical language with a large body of fine literature, there's Spanish.

That's a possibility. My favourite political group if it could be called that is in Chiapas, and I've always wanted to visit some parts of southern Mexico. I've always been fond of Mexico's history and people. I know very little about Spain, and I hope to eventually visit the river Garonne and the Pyrenaean mountains some day, but probably nowhere that is very populated. Is it really as easy of a language as people say? I've heard it's one of the most phonetic languages with its spellings, for example. It might be a relief to try to learn some of it after all the bizarre languages I'm looking at.

Americans may have problems as they associate the Spanish language with immigrants, lawlessness, corruption etc.
If you live in Europe, you tend to think about sunny beaches, ancient cathedrals, friendly people and great food.

I've never associated Spanish with immigrants, lawlessness, and corruption. Truthfully, I've never even seen somebody speak Spanish in person, let alone anybody from Mexico. Where I live the biggest minority language is Chinese, with southeast Asian, Korean, and Japanese minorities also being present. The population here is about 40% English-speaking Caucasian, 50% Asian and of various languages, and 10% other.

 

[Almalexia]

Apparently there is talk of a free trade bloc between China, Japan, and South Korea. Seems like an intriguing prospect.

 

[Anthropoid]

Apparently there is talk of a free trade bloc between China, Japan, and South Korea. Seems like an intriguing prospect.

If it truly is free, in the sense that China doesn't manipulate currency and duties, that would be amazing.

 

[Schemer]

Apparently there is talk of a free trade bloc between China, Japan, and South Korea. Seems like an intriguing prospect.

What about North Korea? The Kims are always in need of new exquisite pairs of designer sunglasses and expensive cars.

 

[Splintert]

You don't get designer sunglasses or expensive cars from China.

 

[Almalexia]

Well it might have some positive demographic influences for Japan. By 2050 they are projected to have 40% of their population be over the age of 65, so they could use immigration. And seeing as they aren't too keen on importing from non-Asian countries, this might be the break they need to stabilize their workforce.

 

[Argeus the Paladin]

Well it might have some positive demographic influences for Japan. By 2050 they are projected to have 40% of their population be over the age of 65, so they could use immigration. And seeing as they aren't too keen on importing from non-Asian countries, this might be the break they need to stabilize their workforce.

隐藏: weaboo qq'ing

I wish I were Chinese. 

 

[Ludial]

Seriously? Chinese and Japanese mixing? That'll take some kind of insane profet who manages to convince them that the West has to be exterminated at all costs. Barring that or an alien invasion , it's not particularly likely that those two particular nations would actively work together.

Also, to Schemer - what I'm personally doing is learning the world's most spoken languages, and if I complete that list then I'm going to move on to the list I want to learn just cuz I like how it sounds.
So far I speak English, French, Spanish, Russian and Bulgarian. The last one I know because I grew up there. Russian in part because of mixed heritage. My French is of the Quebecois variety, naturally since I live in Quebec, Canada. Although I'd much rather be hearing and speaking the European variety, if I have to be blunt about it. My Spanish has become rusty because ever since I arrived in Canada, I have to speak English and French predominantly. Latinos congratulate me (in a rather surprised fashion) of my good handling of the Spanish language and then tend to stubbornly avoid talking to me in that same language, instead relying on the two official languages of Canada (of which only one is the official for Quebec, and you can guess which one).

I have done superficial attempts to learn German and more importantly Scottish Doric, will have to get back on those in the future.

Basically what's left of the list of obligatory languages is Mandarin and Arabic. On which I should get started within the next year.

Then the list of 'for fun' includes the aforementioned German and Doric, along with Romanian, Australian and Japanese; because while I'm not a huge fan of anime and manga, I still think the language is interesting.

 

[Almalexia]

If the aforementioned trading bloc gets passed, it would be a definitive step in the right direction for normalization of their relations.

And umm, I hope that was hyperbole. There really doesn't have to be some fear of outside forces for closer relations between the nations. Each is intrinsically culturally linked, and each had quite favorable relations prior to the European Imperialism. Most notably China being known as Korea's "big brother" for much of its history (though it could be said an abusive one at times  ), and Japan is unique in that it partook in active cultural diffusion from China, and had fair relations with it until the 1600s. Which, of course, is when everything went downhill for all non-European civilizations. The conflicts following this were result of chaos from internal issues and the deft influence of European powers, and thus, in time, may be seen as forgivable in the long run.

 

[Mage246]

China has similar long-term demographic problems with Japan, due to the One Child Policy. Immigration between the two of them won't do anything but shift their proportions around, to the detriment of one of them.

 

[Almalexia]

orite, forgot about that. Haha. Looks like they're up **** creek then. 

 

[Kobrag]

Seriously? Chinese and Japanese mixing? That'll take some kind of insane profet who manages to convince them that the West has to be exterminated at all costs. Barring that or an alien invasion , it's not particularly likely that those two particular nations would actively work together.

Also, to Schemer - what I'm personally doing is learning the world's most spoken languages, and if I complete that list then I'm going to move on to the list I want to learn just cuz I like how it sounds.
So far I speak English, French, Spanish, Russian and Bulgarian. The last one I know because I grew up there. Russian in part because of mixed heritage. My French is of the Quebecois variety, naturally since I live in Quebec, Canada. Although I'd much rather be hearing and speaking the European variety, if I have to be blunt about it. My Spanish has become rusty because ever since I arrived in Canada, I have to speak English and French predominantly. Latinos congratulate me (in a rather surprised fashion) of my good handling of the Spanish language and then tend to stubbornly avoid talking to me in that same language, instead relying on the two official languages of Canada (of which only one is the official for Quebec, and you can guess which one).

I have done superficial attempts to learn German and more importantly Scottish Doric, will have to get back on those in the future.

Basically what's left of the list of obligatory languages is Mandarin and Arabic. On which I should get started within the next year.

Then the list of 'for fun' includes the aforementioned German and Doric, along with Romanian, Australian and Japanese; because while I'm not a huge fan of anime and manga, I still think the language is interesting.

Uhhhh dude.
Their are several areas in Japan (mainly metropoli) where their are large neighbourhoods of Taiwanese, Chinese from Hong Kong and even Mainland Chinese.=/

Frankly, all these asumptions you put out seem to point out that you are either a closet racist or a cultural ignoramus.
Sure there is hostory between Chinese and Japanese people, but many western countries have that history between them and it doesn;t matter too much in the end.

 

[Almalexia]

Well he has a point. The 2nd Sino-Japanese War and Japanese Imperialism really ****ed up relations between the two countries. Which is why they are raging at each other over the sovereignty over a few rocky, uninhabited islands right now. Killing 30 million of the other's population will do that to you.

 

[Mage246]

Grudges are so annoying and non-sensical when kept alive past 1 generation. But I suppose that's the world we live in.

 

[Mad Vader]

If you want to know about grudges, take a look at the Serbo-Croat-Bosnian grudges. The ones from WW2 were alive and well in the 90s. And the ones from the 90s will last a century.
I don't see China and Japan getting too friendly too soon.

 

[Almalexia]

Like I said, the proposal for the free-trade bloc would be a big step in the right direction.

 

[Sir Saladin]

Shopping for cheap labor makes people friendly?

 

[Úlfheðinn]

Child labor brings everyone together in the pursuit of profit.

 

[Mad Vader]

And for people that don't travel, meeting prostitutes from other countries is the only way to see the world and make friends internationally (but no kissing).

 

[Jhessail]

Unless you pay extra for the girlfriend-experience.

And the Chinese are already importing Vietnamese and Philippine women to alleviate the problems of the One Child Policy, though probably nowhere near enough.