What does that tell you?

Tells me you are gushing and babbling again. If an FT;and this is read by FT's and not bloody academics. He, if he wants to speak Mandarin, should start with a simple cd-type course. Get lessons while he is in China, and try his mandarin at each and every opportunity he gets. He doesn't have to get all ponsey and worry about the hemisphere of his brain. AND do not get political and start studying stuff that stops you learning how to speak the wretched language because you spend too much time away with the fairies.