> this book doesn't teach you how to read -- or speak -- but that doesn't mean it isn't useful That's how chinese characters became a lingua franca between dip

> this book doesn't teach you how to read -- or speak -- but that doesn't mean it isn't useful That's how chinese characters became a lingua franca between diplomats in ancient East Asia. They didn't have to speak each others languages, they just had to know the same character and communicate their ideas effectively enough on paper.