The table illustrates the number of native speakers of six languages as well as the number of speakers of these languages as an additional language. It is noticeable that the number of speakers of Mandarin Chinese is strikingly higher than the other languages with over one billion speakers.
People who speak Mandarin largely speak it as a first language (900 million). In comparison to this only 190 million people speak Mandarin Chinese as an additional language. What is remarkable about English speakers is that the number of speakers of English as an additional language is higher than that of native speakers of English (603 and 339 million respectively).
While the total number of Hindi speakers (490 million) is roughly equal to that of Spanish speakers (420 million); when it comes to speaking these languages as an additional language the number for Hindi is much higher (120 million) than that for Spanish (70 million).
Native speakers of Arabic and Portuguese are similar in number with 206 million and 203 million respectively. However, the number of Arabic speakers as an additional language (24 million) is almost 2. 5 times higher than speakers of Portuguese as an additional language.
The table illustrates the
number
of native speakers of six
languages
as well
as the
number
of speakers of these
languages
as an
additional
language
. It is noticeable that the
number
of speakers of Mandarin Chinese is
strikingly
higher than the other
languages
with over one billion speakers.
People
who speak Mandarin
largely
speak it as a
first
language
(900
million)
.
In comparison
to this
only
190
million
people
speak Mandarin Chinese as an
additional
language
. What is remarkable about English speakers is that the
number
of speakers of English as an
additional
language
is higher than that of native speakers of English (603 and 339
million
respectively
).
While the total
number
of Hindi speakers (490
million)
is roughly equal to that of Spanish speakers (420
million)
; when it
comes
to speaking these
languages
as an
additional
language
the
number
for Hindi is much higher (120
million)
than that for Spanish (70 million).
Native speakers of Arabic and Portuguese are similar in
number
with 206
million
and 203
million
respectively
.
However
, the
number
of Arabic speakers as an
additional
language
(24
million)
is almost 2. 5 times higher than speakers of Portuguese as an
additional
language
.