Chinese Language and Script

With 1.5 billion speakers, the Chinese language is the most spoken language of the world. It is nevertheless one single language that is spoken in the same form in all parts of China, nor has it been unchanged over time.

The script by which the Chinese language is written is an ideographic script embedded into clouds of mystery. It is an obstacle for education and literacy and has nevertheless been used for a vast treasury of literature. And is has provided an example for the scripts of neighbouring states.
This part of the encyclopaedia provides an introduction into important aspects of both the Chinese language and the Chinese script.