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Over 3000 years old. It was probably around by the time of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC)

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14y ago
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6d ago

The Chinese language dates back over 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest continually spoken languages in the world. Its origins can be traced to the early Shang Dynasty.

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Q: How old is the Chinese language?
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What is the easiest way to learn Chinese?

The easiest way to learn Chinese is through consistent practice and immersion in the language. This can include taking language classes, using language learning apps, finding a language exchange partner, and practicing speaking and listening to Chinese as much as possible. Immersing yourself in Chinese culture can also help with language acquisition.


What is the study of Chinese language called?

The study of the Chinese language is called Sinology or Chinese linguistics. Sinology typically includes the study of Chinese history, culture, literature, and language.


Which of these language families includes the Chinese language?

The Chinese language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family.


What is the age of Chinese language?

Old Chinese can be traced back to the Chinese Bronze Age which was around the end of the 11th century BC. It began when the Zhou people conquered the Shang people in 1045 BC. The Shang (1600-1046 BC) were related to the Dongyi of Shandong and Jiangsu, and probably spoke a language that was a mixture of Proto-Korean and Hmong. The preceding Xia people (2100-1600 BC) also spoke this tongue. But the preceding Longshan people (3000-2000 BC) probably spoke an Austric language related to Hmong. Old Chinese did not exist until the Zhou people brought their Tibetan dialect to the Lower Huang He and taught it to the conquered people. But the former Shang people spoke it in their own peculiar way, and this became Old Chinese. So you can say that the Chinese language is about 3,000 years old, having started around 1000 BC.


Is Vietnamese a Chinese language?

No, Vietnamese is not a Chinese language. While Vietnamese has been influenced by Chinese culture and language, it belongs to the Austroasiatic language family and uses the Latin alphabet for writing.

Related questions

In Qin and Han dynasty what was the written language?

Old Chinese


What has the author Axel Schuessler written?

Axel Schuessler has written: 'A dictionary of early Zhou Chinese' -- subject(s): Chinese language, Dictionaries, English 'Minimal old Chinese and later Han Chinese' -- subject(s): Chinese language, Phonology


Does tudou have an English language option?

Nope, just plain old chinese.


Is Chinese one of the oldest language?

Chinese is not one of the oldest languages. It is old, but languages such as Sanskrit and Tamil are considered the oldest.


How many consonants are there in Chinese?

The Chinese language unlike the English language has no alphabet. That said, there are no consonants or vowels in the Chinese language.


How is Chinese language different from the English language?

Chinese language is a tonal language with characters representing words or concepts, while English is an alphabetic language with an alphabet representing sounds to form words. Chinese does not have verb tenses or plurals, and relies on context for understanding, whereas English uses word order and grammar rules for clarity. Additionally, Chinese does not have articles (a, an, the) like English.


What is the easiest way to learn Chinese?

The easiest way to learn Chinese is through consistent practice and immersion in the language. This can include taking language classes, using language learning apps, finding a language exchange partner, and practicing speaking and listening to Chinese as much as possible. Immersing yourself in Chinese culture can also help with language acquisition.


When was The Chinese Language Institute created?

The Chinese Language Institute was created in 2009.


How did they think of the Chinese language?

The Chinese language evolved over thousands of years through a mix of native dialects and influences. The development was influenced by historical events, cultural exchanges, and phonetic representation.


How many letters are in Chinese language?

There are over 50,000 characters in the Chinese language, but the language itself does not have an alphabet made up of individual letters like the English language. Instead, Chinese characters are used to represent words or parts of words.


Where can you find Chinese symbols in there everyday life?

Chinese symbols are to the Chinese language what letters of the alphabet are to the English language


Who created Chinese?

Chinese what? There is not even one Chinese language.