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I'd like to learn an Asian language. I was initially interested in Japanese but after some research I switched to Chinese because of its wider audience and economic growth projections. However, I am really confused about the different dialects and varieties within the Chinese language family, and I am not really sure about where I should start (Mandarin? Simplified?) I know this will depend mostly on what I am trying to achieve... Presently, I have no specific goal, I just want to learn a new language with different roots (I am fluent in English and in Spanish). It would be great if I can apply what I learn to movies, magazines, traveling, etc.Additionally, I always had an interest in Asian cultures.

So... I would really appreciate some expert advice on:

  1. What language dialect/family should I start with?
  2. Can you recommend online resources, books, or any other self-learning material? (Note: I've already collected a fair list of learning resources, some of them extracted from this site, but there are so many that it's hard to choose... this is why I am asking for personal recommendations based on your experience).

Thank you for your help!

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Hello Sebastian, and welcome to Chinese Language and Usage Beta! The first question is not a good fit for the Q&A sites, as you might already know, since you're asking for opinions. The second question can be answered by our Resources for learning Mandarin Chinese. If you improve your question in some way, please flag it for moderator attention. (Make sure there are no dupes in the site, though.) Alternatively, you can use our Chinese Language & Usage Chat. There you can ask whatever you need! :) – Alenanno♦ Nov 22 '12 at 22:15
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Regarding question #1: I would recommend Mandarin, as it is the national language of China. The only other dialect with much "reach" is Cantonese, and it's a far 2nd. Regarding question #2: Alenanno is perfectly right. Check out the resources page. – Stumpy Joe Pete Nov 22 '12 at 23:10
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As you said, if you have no specific goal, stick with Mandarin. It isn't as universal in the PRC as the government would like us to believe, but it is the Chinese language with the most learning resources/materials. – dda Nov 23 '12 at 11:46
@Alenanno: you are right, I was asking for personal recommendations and expert advice, and now I see this is not a good fit. Let's keep it close it. – Sebastian Nov 26 '12 at 4:29
Dda and Joe: thank you – Sebastian Nov 26 '12 at 4:30
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closed as not constructive by Alenanno♦ Nov 22 '12 at 22:15

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