> No more so than any other language. Ideographic languages aren't
> necessarily more difficult than alphabetic languages; in some ways
> Chinese
> is simpler than English -- e.g. grammar.
Have you actually tried learning Chinese yourself? Or Japanese?
I'm not just talking about the writing systems -- though learning thousands of characters is a barrier that does tend to daunt all but the very determined. It's also the fact that these languages are completely outside the Indo-European family.
How many American students take and complete degrees in these languages compared with European languages?
Jon Johanning // jjohanning at igc.org __________________________ When I was a little boy, I had but a little wit, 'Tis a long time ago, and I have no more yet; Nor ever ever shall, until that I die, For the longer I live the more fool am I. -- Wit and Mirth, an Antidote against Melancholy (1684)