Tonal in the lead!
Know what the ten most commonly spoken languages in the world are? I would have guessed English, followed by Arabic. And I would have been wrong.
Here's the actual breakdown:
1. Mandarin
2. English
3. Hindustani
4. Spanish
5. Russian
6. Arabic
7. Bengali
8. Portuguese
9. Malay-Indonesian
10. French
Useful trivia provided by one of my favorite bloggers, Maggie Mason.
so, how about a list of those little known gift buying options that you were going to do on the show? with the holidays coming up and all, i was really looking forward to those!
Posted by: kat | Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 01:40 PM
I'm surprised to see Russian ahead of Arabic.
Posted by: billybob | Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 02:15 PM
"Hindustani"? What does that mean? "Hindi"? Or all the languages spoken in India cottonballed into one affectionate moniker?
Posted by: Sujeet | Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Hmmm... not surprised about Mandarin being #1 but I really though spanish would be ranked #3
Posted by: Andrew | Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 04:32 PM
What's up, freak?
Posted by: Chrissy | Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 06:08 PM
@Chrissy Me, a freak? Nooooo. :)
Posted by: sarah | Wednesday, November 05, 2008 at 06:54 PM
hey sarah,
how u doing?
its Hindi and not Hindustani :)
Cheers,
Kunal
Posted by: Kunal | Thursday, November 06, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I am thinking it is time for own podcast..you have too much time on your hands now..
Posted by: Theodat | Thursday, November 06, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Hope you didn't think I was actually calling you a freak, Sarah! I was attempting to say 'hello' in English.
"To say "hello" in English, say "What's up, freak?" (watz-UP-freek)."
:D
Posted by: Chrissy | Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Hindustani=Hindi/Urdu before the Partition of India. Both languages are essentially the same except the Muslims use the arabic script to write and call it Urdu.
Russian being so high probably has to to with leftover inflated statistics of their Soviet past and the russophone policies in their near abroad.
Posted by: Adi | Monday, November 10, 2008 at 05:17 AM
And I speak four of them, sweet!
Posted by: Michael Kagan | Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 11:40 AM
It always makes me laugh when I hear the word "Hindustani." It reminds me of Peter Sellers in "The Party"--obscure but awesome! I am glad to say that I can speak 3, and understand 4 of those {Bengali--can't speak it!}
Posted by: Neha Tiwari | Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 04:22 PM