- Position1 of 3›
- Yes, Mandarin will become the next world language
- Argument1 of 2›
Mandarin is an economic necessity
More people are learning Mandarin because they see the language as economically profitable or because they need the language to communicate with Chinese businesses.
The argument
As China grows its businesses and economic influence, more people are learning Mandarin to better communicate with Chinese business owners. Several countries see Mandarin as an important language to learn, for business and international affairs. For example, the U.S. government considers Mandarin a "critical language," meaning it is a language that U.S. Americans should learn to help U.S. national security. Many nations in East Africa, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Kenya have added Mandarin as an optional subject in elementary schools, and Uganda has Mandarin as a mandatory subject. If the Mandarin-speaking economy surpasses the status quo of an English-speaking economy, Mandarin could replace English as the language of business.
Context
China is among the world's fastest-growing economies,,makes up 15.5% of the global economy, and is currently the world's 2nd largest economy. China's continued economic development (through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative to develop routes connecting China to 152 countries) will maintain its position as a global economic superpower for years to come.
Premises
Counter-arguments
Mandarin may be an economic necessity, but English will still be more beneficial in fields of business, science, and technology.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] Study driven by trade is instrumental and follows economic ties rather than displacing a lingua franca, and a designation as a "critical language" states one government's strategic priorities rather than measuring global use. The premise also offers no figures for how many people are learning Mandarin or reaching fluency in it. [Rejecting P2] Adding a subject to a curriculum records a policy decision, often alongside investment agreements, and says nothing about uptake or attainment; several of the countries listed are in southern rather than East Africa. A world language is defined by use between third parties who share no other tongue, and nothing here shows Mandarin being used that way — while the conclusion is itself stated as a conditional, which leaves the question open.