A History of Mandarin: China's Search for a Common Language

Putonghua, also known as Mandarin to foreigners, is the common language of 1.4 billion Chinese people. But it was not always the case. The Chinese language has a history dating back thousands of years, but Putonghua came about not through natural evolution but as an effort by intellectuals and politicians to modernize and simplify the language to aid communications among speakers of the different dialects that are used across the country. In this entertaining lecture at NYU Shanghai, author David Moser explains how the modern Chinese language came into being.

David Moser holds a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Chinese Studies from the University of Michigan, with a major in Chinese Linguistics and Philosophy. He has been based in Beijing for over 25 years, active in academic and media circles.


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