The Rise of Chinese as a Global Language

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. Introduction: Rising China, Rising Chinese

   • Jeffrey Gil

   Pages 1-21

3. The Macroacquisition of Chinese in the Global Ecology of Languages

   • Jeffrey Gil

   Pages 23-50

4. The Language Comprehensive Competitiveness of Chinese: The Objective Perspective

   • Jeffrey Gil

   Pages 51-71

5. The Language Comprehensive Competitiveness of Chinese: The Subjective Perspective

   • Jeffrey Gil

   Pages 73-91

6. A Language Comprehensive Competitiveness Profile of Chinese

   • Jeffrey Gil

   Pages 93-98

7. The Role of the Character-Based Writing System in the Future Global Dynamics of Chinese

   • Jeffrey Gil

   Pages 99-119

8. Continuation, Coexistence or Replacement?

   • Jeffrey Gil

   Pages 121-143

9. Conclusion

   • Jeffrey Gil

   Pages 145-152

10. Back Matter

    Pages 153-186

    PDF

This book investigates the macroacquisition of Chinese – its large-scale acquisition and adoption for various purposes by individuals, governments and organisations – and the implications of this process for the future of English as a global language. The author contextualises the macroacquisition of Chinese within the global ecology of languages, then analyses the factors responsible for the macroacquisition of Chinese, showing, in contrast to most academic and popular commentary, that a character-based writing system will not stop Chinese from becoming a global language. He then articulates three possible future scenarios: English remaining a dominant global language, English and Chinese both being global languages, and Chinese becoming a global language instead of English. The book concludes by outlining directions for further research on the acquisition and use of Chinese around the world. It will be of interest to students and scholars with an interest in English as a global language, Chinese as a second/foreign language, language education policy, and applied linguistics more generally.

• English as a Lingua Franca (ELF)
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• English as a Foreign Language (EFL)
• Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL)
• language education policy
• Belt and Road Initiative
• macroacquisition
• soft power
• intercultural communication
• english
• chinese

“This book will be valuable for learners … of Chinese. Its logical and readable introduction to the language and its historical development provides a solid foundation for understanding macroacquisition, and for comparing Chinese and English language trajectories. For readers already familiar with Chinese, Gil’s book presents a relatively objective sociopolitical discussion of Chinese on the international stage. Overall, then, the author illuminates macroacquisition, offers practical insights into Chinese-language education, and inspires readers to question current strategies and their possible implications.” (Yin Shihui, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, June 11, 2023)

• College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia

  Jeffrey Gil

Jeffrey Gil is a Senior Lecturer in ESOL/TESOL at Flinders University, Australia. He has also taught at universities in China. Jeffrey has published widely on applied linguistics topics and is the author of Soft Power and the Worldwide Promotion of Chinese Language Learning: The Confucius Institute Project (2017).

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