homeWelcome, sign in or click here to subscribe.login
     


 

 

Weekend


Subscriber content preview

December 8, 2017

Strange But True!

Q. If we all spoke the same language one day, it just might be a variety of a similect. Explain, please.

A. First, a few facts: Mandarin Chinese is spoken by the greatest number of people, over a billion; next is Spanish, and together the two languages are spoken in some 30 countries, says Hal Hodson in New Scientist magazine. Ranking third is English, found in at least 100 countries; it is the first language for some 335 million people, and the second language for another 555 million. Also, it dominates international relations, business and science.


 
. . .


To read this story in full login or purchase a subscription.



Previous columns:



Email or user name:
Password:
 
Forgot password? Click here.