It is debatable nowadays whether people should choose between India or China as the economical and technological power is shifting towards those countries. Most people would choose China over India as the new world leader, but they are forgetting one factor, how do we communicate with Chinese? There are two choices. The first one is to learn Chinese. The other one is that the Chinese should learn English. That does not seem to be cost-effective at the moment.
With a population that is almost equal to the one of china, and with a language that is already learned and taught by millions across the globe, India seems to be the better choice. It is easier for people to communicate with Indians in English and the dilemma of having to teach a new language is not present.
Which one would you choose?
I really like your political, economic analysis of what is the future language. I think that the power does not have a language and ethnics. When any language has the qualification of being the future leader, so it will be. If we look at the history, we would find that most of the known languages led the world one day.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with you, Shadi, that the better choice would be India for the very reasons that you mention. If there is going to be a major shift in power or structure, it seems that most of the world would take the path of least resistance. Since people in so many countries, including India, already speak English and not as many speak Chinese, then India would be the logical choice, and, as you mention, more cost and time effective.
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