Comments on: Kevin Rudd Speaks Mandarin, Possibly the Next Language of Empire http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/language-of-empire/2007/09/07/ An independent perspective on the Australian and global investment markets Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:39:45 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Tony Ryan http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/language-of-empire/2007/09/07/comment-page-1/#comment-29323 Tony Ryan Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:02:42 +0000 http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/language-of-empire/2007/09/07/#comment-29323 To Dan Denning As I see it, Rudd is crafty, manipulative and an absolute pragmatist; but he is neither intelligent nor creative. Someone, at some time, put it to him that if he learns Mandarin he can stand in line to be PM one day. This, or he presented this skill to a power-broker (Cheney? Murdoch?) and the point was well taken. Either way, I want to know how Rudd came to learn Mandarin; given that there is no other obvious motive for a long term political aspirant. Kindest regards Tony Ryan To Dan Denning

As I see it, Rudd is crafty, manipulative and an absolute pragmatist; but he is neither intelligent nor creative. Someone, at some time, put it to him that if he learns Mandarin he can stand in line to be PM one day.

This, or he presented this skill to a power-broker (Cheney? Murdoch?) and the point was well taken.

Either way, I want to know how Rudd came to learn Mandarin; given that there is no other obvious motive for a long term political aspirant.

Kindest regards

Tony Ryan

]]> By: Henriette http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/language-of-empire/2007/09/07/comment-page-1/#comment-5658 Henriette Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:12:51 +0000 http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/language-of-empire/2007/09/07/#comment-5658 Our mother-tongue carries our soul, our mores. Let us protect ALL mother-tongues. And for inter-national communication, let us use a neutral, easy to learn language. Several of those have already been compiled, we only have to choose one. Then we can use it as a BRIDGE to look at any other cultures and learn any other language we wish. "created languages" are sometimes belittled as being "artificial", but we don't reject cars because they are artificial horses ! Our mother-tongue carries our soul, our mores. Let us protect ALL mother-tongues. And for inter-national communication, let us use a neutral, easy to learn language. Several of those have already been compiled, we only have to choose one. Then we can use it as a BRIDGE to look at any other cultures and learn any other language we wish. "created languages" are sometimes belittled as being "artificial", but we don't reject cars because they are artificial horses !

]]> By: Nicole http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/language-of-empire/2007/09/07/comment-page-1/#comment-3197 Nicole Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:57:49 +0000 http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/language-of-empire/2007/09/07/#comment-3197 Esperanto deserves to be considered very seriously. Not everyone can afford the time and money necessary to study English. Furthermore using a national language creates an enormous inequality, as it is always so much easier to communicate in one's native language. Esperanto can be studied in a reasonable amount of time by everyone, even people not gifted for languages. It has proven itself, that it works extremely well and enables people to have deep conversations which would not be possible in any other second language. Esperanto deserves to be considered very seriously. Not everyone can afford the time and money necessary to study English. Furthermore using a national language creates an enormous inequality, as it is always so much easier to communicate in one's native language. Esperanto can be studied in a reasonable amount of time by everyone, even people not gifted for languages. It has proven itself, that it works extremely well and enables people to have deep conversations which would not be possible in any other second language.

]]> By: MatthewM http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/language-of-empire/2007/09/07/comment-page-1/#comment-3164 MatthewM Sat, 08 Sep 2007 02:50:12 +0000 http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/language-of-empire/2007/09/07/#comment-3164 Esperanto or Lojban! HAH! I doubt either of these "nerd" languages will take hold in any setting. Firefly the science fiction series had a type of mongrel english/mandarin mix (though mandarin was mainly used for swearing) which seems plausible. Esperanto or Lojban! HAH! I doubt either of these "nerd" languages will take hold in any setting.

Firefly the science fiction series had a type of mongrel english/mandarin mix (though mandarin was mainly used for swearing) which seems plausible.

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