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Language in Human Affairs, 2008 World Philosophy, Unizik, Awka, 2009 

 

LANGUAGES MATTER: CHINESE LANGUAGE MATTERS 

NOW 

 

Sunny Ifeanyi Odinye 

Department of African & Asian Studies, 

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT 

 

Language is the greatest attribute that characterizes human 
beings. It is a vehicle for culture, education, knowledge, 
learning and training, love…..anything. Language is vital to 
human existence. It is also a means by which we control, 
create and preserve culture. Man cannot function well 
without a language. Language is the most important 
possession and characteristic of the human beings. It is a 
system of communication by written or spoken words used 
by the people of an area. “It makes it possible for men to 
transits knowledge across space and time” (Nwadike 2008). 
It is said that 21st century belongs to China and that makes 
the learning of Chinese language a very important matter 
now. This study is divided into introduction, what is 
language, functions of language, Chinese language, Chinese 
language: taking a global status, and conclusion.  
 
 

1.0 Introduction 

The 61st Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 

2008 “International year of Languages” in effort to promote 

unity in diversity and global understanding. In his address 

on the ninth International Mother  Language Day, 21 

Februarys 2008; Koichiro Matsuura, the Director General of 

UNESCO, outlined the many dimensions of this production 

and concluded that “it is important that the idea that 

“Languages matter!’ be promoted everywhere” 



Language in Human Affairs, 2008 World Philosophy, Unizik, Awka, 2009 

 

Reflecting further on this matter, the UNESCO Editorial 

(2008) observes: “The first instrument of a people’s genius is 

its language,” said the French writer Stendhal. Literacy, 

learning, social integration---everything, transfers through 

language, which embodies national cultural and sometimes 

religious identity for each person. It constitutes one of the 

fundamental dimensions of a human being. 

Language is the most important possession and 

characteristic of the human beings. It is a system of 

communication by written or spoken words used by the 

people of an area. “It makes it possible for men to transits 

knowledge across space and time” (Nwadike 2008). He went 

further to say, “Through it, people’s culture and world view 

are expressed. It is a sine qua non” Eva Engholm, a 

language specialist and educator, has this to say about it: 

Language is the key to the heart of the 

people. If we lose the key, we lose the 

people. If we treasure the key and keep it 

safe, it will unlock the door to untold 

riches; riches that cannot be guessed at 

from the other side of the door.  

 

2.0 What is Language? 

 Language is the greatest attribute that characterizes 

human beings. It is a vehicle for culture, education, 

knowledge, learning and training, love…..anything. 

Language is vital to human existence. It is also a means by 

which we control, create and preserve culture. Man cannot 



Language in Human Affairs, 2008 World Philosophy, Unizik, Awka, 2009 

 

function well without a language. Gomwalk (2000), asserts 

that language regulates all human activities. Language 

embodies culture and to understand a culture, one must 

understand and appreciate the language of the culture as 

an essential medium of cultural transmission. In line with 

this, Kuju (1999:37) states that: 

“Language is the surest way through which 

people can retain and safeguard knowledge,  

wisdom and the authentic cultures, inherited 

from their ancestors, as well as hand them to 

generation after them”. 

Language is man’s most prized identity. When one is talking 

about one’s culture, the most prominent element of that 

culture is the language. That is why Ejiobih (2005) says that 

“Language is human specific. It is the carrier of a people’s 

culture, norms and values. Every individual in the society 

naturally would want a sense of belonging and this is 

usually expressed by the language’.  While agreeing with the 

above, Nwadike (2002) has noted that without a language of 

its own, a nation becomes merged and lost in the foreign 

group whose language it is forced to speak. 

  Anagbogu .et.al (2001) defines language as a means 

which human beings devised for communicating ideas, 

feelings, emotions, desire, etc. through complex vocal or 

written symbols’. 

 

3.0 Functions of Language 



Language in Human Affairs, 2008 World Philosophy, Unizik, Awka, 2009 

 

 Language is very important to man. It can indeed be 

said to be the only thing that makes man distinct from other 

animals for he is the only animal that uses language 

systematically as a means of communication. (Anagbogu et 

al 2001). 

 Language is useful in all human activities.  Therefore, 

the function of language cannot be over emphasized. 

Language is of great help to the man. People greet with 

language, pray with language, sing with language, write with 

language, learn with language, and others. Imagine in a day 

you decide not to speak or communicate with anybody. 

Maybe after that day you would realize the importance of 

language. 

 

 

 

3.1 A means of Communication 

Language is used as a means of communication. This is its 

most important and its obvious use. 

 

3.2 Medium of Thought 

 Language is a tool for thinking and even for dreaming. 

It is observed that when somebody is thinking he makes use 

of language in his thought. This is also true of dreaming. 

 

3.3 Transmission of Culture 

 Socialization is achieved primarily through language. 

This is because it is a means the older ones in a society use 

to ‘teach’ the younger ones the culture of their society. 



Language in Human Affairs, 2008 World Philosophy, Unizik, Awka, 2009 

 

Language is therefore a veritable instrument for 

socialization. 

 

4.0 Chinese Language 

 Scholars think Chinese writing originated almost four 

thousand years ago and that the spoken language goes back  

to remote antiquity, making it one of the world’s oldest 

languages. In spite of its great age, Chinese is now one of 

most widely used living languages. The language is spoken 

in many dialects within China, as well as in many overseas 

Chinese communities, especially in Southeast Asia, Europe, 

and the Americans. And there are more than a billion native 

speakers of Chinese worldwide. It is one of languages, the 

United Nation use when conducting official business. 

 Chinese belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family. 

Hanyu, literally “language of the Han”, refers to the 

standard Chinese language, and is spoken by the Han, Hui, 

Manchu, and other ethnic groups that constitute 94% of the 

population of China. There are fifty six recognized ethnic 

groups in China, using as many as eighty different 

languages. 

 Chinese include variants from seven main dialect 

groups. The northern or mandarin dialect covers three 

fourths of china’s territory and includes two thirds of its 

population. Standard Chinese is also known by its official 

designation, “putonghua’, literally “common speech”. 

Putonghua is based on the northern dialect, using the 



Language in Human Affairs, 2008 World Philosophy, Unizik, Awka, 2009 

 

dialect of Beijing as the basis for its pronunciation and 

modern vernacular literature for its grammatical structure.  

 

5.0 Chinese Language: taking a global status 

 In the seventeen and eighteenth centuries English was 

the language of the leading colonial nation- Britain. In the 

eighteen and nineteenth centuries it was the language of the 

leader of the industrial revolution also Britain. In the late 

nineteenth century and the early twentieth it was the 

language of the leading economic power – the USA . As a 

result, when new technologies brought new linguistic 

opportunities, English emerged as a first-rank language in 

industries which affected all aspects of society -the press, 

advertising, broad communications. 

 From the above mentioned facts and evidences, 

English is the global language, but for how long? 

Considering what makes a language world language, 

Chinese language will soon assume the status of a global 

language. It has the most native speakers of the world 

languages. It is also being used in many other countries 

outside China. China is known as the fastest growing 

economy. China is rich in economy, strong in military, high 

in space and technology. Crystal (1995,112)  has this to say 

in his book titled ‘English as a Global language’ 

 

“The biggest potential setback to English as a 

global language, it has been said with more 

than a little irony, would have taken place a 



Language in Human Affairs, 2008 World Philosophy, Unizik, Awka, 2009 

 

generation age- if Bill Gates had grown up 

speaking Chinese”. 

 

Crystal forgets that the world will never have only one “Bill 

Gate”. There must be another “Bill Gate”. Who knows that 

Senator Barack Obama will be the president of the united  

states fifty years ago? 

 Now, china is a world market. China produces virtually 

everything ranging from shop to ship. Almost everything in 

the market is made in china. The surprising thing is that 

they use their language to write instructions and functions 

of the products. That is a way of promoting their language. 

One day everybody will have no choice but to learn Chinese 

language. People want to learn new languages and the 

language they learn now is Chinese. 

 The Nigeria central bank governor, Prof Chukwuma 

Soludo was presenting a paper at the university of  Benin 

which he titled “Can Nigeria be the china of Africa?” He 

highlighted the importance of language in economic 

development. Yes, Nigeria can be the next China of Africa 

because Nigeria has the largest population in Africa as  

China has the largest population in the world but Nigeria 

has no common indigenous language like China. 

 

6.0 CONCLUSION 

All languages are equal and useful to the users. English 

language is not better than Igbo language or Chinese 

language. Although, some languages have more language 



Language in Human Affairs, 2008 World Philosophy, Unizik, Awka, 2009 

 

users and therefore they are more popular than the others. 

In every period, one or two languages will assume the status 

of world language. Now, English is taking that position but 

the Chinese language will soon become a world language.   

 

 

References 

Anagbogu, N.P et al (2001) Introduction to Linguistic, Awka:  

J.F.C. Limited 

Chen,  R.S. et al (2002) New practical Chinese reader  

Textbook, Beijing: Beijing language and culture 

university  press. 

Crystal, D. (1997). English as a Global Language England  

University Press. 

Gomwalk, S. (2002) “Lnaguage and power: A Toll for  

successful Political speeches”. In K. Babarinde (ed), 

Education and the challenges of Patriotism in Nigeria 

Ogun: Ad ventures. 

Nwadike, U.U (2002) , Igbo language in Education Obosi:  

Pacific  Ejiobih, N.A.H. (2004) “Nativization  

of the English Language: the cut to  

consolidation of Development” Abuja:  

Nigeria Journal of Gender and Development.  

Suludo, C.C. (2006) “Can Nigeria be the China of African?  

Proper presented at the founder. Day of the University  

of Benin, Benin city, Nigeria.  

 

 


