chinese language

I think learning, being able to speak, read and or write in Chinese is cool. Not to mention very useful if you happen to be in Asia. In the Chinatown areas of non Asian cities, knowing Chinese will help one get by with ordering food and purchases. Reading the menus and signs outside the shops. Of course all their menus are displayed in English as well. Via Simon World, this other blog asks Why We Use English Signs?

Within the broad term of Chinese as a language, lie many branches of dialects. The most common being Mandarin which is the national language of China, and Cantonese which is spoken by almost all of Hong Kong's population. Other known dialects that spring to mind are Hakka(also called Khek), Hokkien which is commonly spoken in Taiwan and Teochew. There are many more dialects which I have not named out of course.