The unique difficulties of the Chinese language has been a theme for many a writer. And on the other side there is an article in existence “On the supposed difficulty of Chinese,” in which the writer (Alfred Lister) makes bold to say, “I maintain that, all things considered, it is an easy language, easier than French, German, or any other European language, and that it can be spoken fluently after a shorter period of study.”

The bewildered novice may naturally ask which view is the correct one. And the answer is, Both. Let us explain this at length.

The term “Chinese language” may refer to either or all of three things: (1) Colloquial Chinese; (2) a written dialect based upon that colloquial; (3) the literary language of China. And the last-named is exceedingly difficult to master.

Mr. Lister's remarks were made upon the colloquial language. And they would seem to be justified from the fact that missionaries are in the habit of preaching and teaching within a year of their arrival in the country; while some have launched forth as public speakers at the end of seven or eight months. And these early effusions are readily understanded of the people, although the vocabulary of the speaker will necessarily be somewhat meagre.