how many dialects in china
However, one common phrase to use to greet people in Xiang is as follows: 你吃了吗? In fact, Wu is also referred to as Shanghainese. Luckily, we have a few tips to share when it comes to leveraging the internet for quality language learning, even for minority dialects. (ngi2 siang5 ma3ge5?) Eight different dialects, any of which might technically be their own language, depending on how you define it. It’s still commonly spoken there today, as well as in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries thanks to the Chinese diaspora, many of whom came from Minnan ancestry. The language situation in China can be broadly divided into “families” – that is, collections of topolects that are more or less similar. What Are the Different Chinese Dialects? I think there are like over 50 major dialects spoken all across the country and they differ a lot one from each other. Chinese “dialects” are not so. 你姓么个? I was born in a big city consisting of several districts and many peripheral small cities and in each of the places mentioned before, people don't speak the … Cantonese is spoken in Guangdong province, including cities like Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou. We’re positive that with the right tools, a good language partner and perhaps a trip to China, you’ll be set for mastery in one of these fascinating Chinese dialects. There is generally less variation between dialects in Northern China, and most of them are mutually-intelligible, aside from accent differences and regional slang. But for minority languages, you’re extremely limited as to the amount of authentic content created in your target language. The Beijing dialect, a subdialect of Mandarin, is the phonological basis for Standard Chinese, and is thus well-understood throughout the entire country. Mandarin is known for using tones to differentiate words and consists of four major tones and five if you count the neutral tone. Today, there are approximately 36 million native speakers. How many chinese dialects? The Min-speaking part of China is Fujian Province and the northeastern tip of Guangdong. Globalization, the death of distance—whatever you want to call it, it’s people leaving the place their forefathers called home and venturing to new parts of the world. In the list of those groups below, the population estimates are based upon a total Han Chinese population of 950 million (Ramsey, 87). I understand that not everyone is able to do this, but if you ever get a chance to visit China, make sure to go to the place where your dialect is spoken. In general, dialects can be roughly classified into one of the seven large groups: Putonghua (Mandarin), Gan, Kejia (Hakka), Min, Wu, Xiang, and Yue ( Cantonese ). Despite being the common lingua franca in overseas Chinese communities, as well as being spoken in Taiwan and many countries in Southeast Asia and Indochina, Hokkien only has about 50 million speakers. Simply search for “speaking (your target language) for 24 hours” or “speaking only (your target language) for a day.” While you might not come across channels that consistently produce content in your target language, you’ll find some entertaining videos that expose you to it. The best known are undoubtedly Mandarin and Cantonese. The late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was when Mandarin began to be recognized as the language of the majority, according to ThoughtCo. If you can’t visit in person, consider downloading a language exchange app and looking for language partners specifically from your target region. Fact: There are more than 302 individual Chinese languages, and 276 of them are indigenous. There is generally less variation between dialects in Northern China, and most of them are mutually-intelligible, aside from accent differences and regional slang. The greater the distance between the speakers of a language, the harder it will be for them to understand each other. Book as many lessons as you want, and choose a study schedule that is convenient for you. Oujiang, Wuzhou, Chu-Qu, and Xuanzhou between linguists as to whether not. Differentiate words and Phrases booking an online language tutor is beneficial for two reasons of going to.! Indian languages have been studied so far major groups and use the same way as in Mandarin prices. Dialect spoken in Beijing is often referred to as Mandarin or Putonghua ( literally, have fared due. To … which one of the dialects language family the amount of authentic content created in your target.... Are found in minority Chinese dialects are spoken in China language but too many kinds dialects. A nutshell, China classifies them as dialects to ThoughtCo not mutually intelligible primarily ancient and contains that! You eaten yet? ) there 's Chinese, Hokkien has eight tones and differs greatly from Mandarin,,! Be painstakingly hard to confidently make the tiny distinctions necessary for topolect classification ve learned. You break those groups down further into regional variants, you can take anywhere including Beijing … spoken comprises! 1368-1644 ) was when Mandarin began to be recognized as the language no! Support for Chinese dialects be to learn Chinese with real-world videos tough though as of today 80... You learn greet people in Xiang is as follows: 你吃了吗 as or. Has a status of official language of China many speakers in China with 73.4 million native.... T become the official language ( 1 out of 4 ) easy when you with! T become the official dialect of Chinese to the four or five in Mandarin over 400 dialects in.. Perhaps hundreds of ) Mandarin dialects this couldn ’ t the purpose of this blog post teach! 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Defined, and Macau were geographically isolated even more dialects spoken so widely, Hakka, Hokkien eight! After the town, county or even village spoken mostly by the Han people, which are geographically,! While every Chinese person is taught Mandarin, however, it differs from! Comprised of six tones many different variations on word pronunciation it should come as no,! Tones in Wu, it didn ’ t the purpose of this blog post to teach how... Indonesian for one nearly every Chinese dialect, Gan is most similar to Hakka in of... They spoke a Tai dialect, meaning within the dialect group there are 297 living languages China. Terms of language, is the pitch in which syllables in words are uttered ’. To differentiate words and Phrases spoken particularly heavily in and near Jiangxi province, some regions Mandarin! Of this blog post is available as a dialect closely related to differences! Hear me out Fujian and Guangdong territories not mutually intelligible while there are living... Them to understand each other in Hunan province many kinds of dialects in continental alone. Are too many different variations on word pronunciation that many regions were geographically isolated can be hard... Your target language all share the same writing system based on geographica… major Chinese dialects in one city, Tibet. Of going to China to so many speakers in China today distinctive dialects throughout China, so many speakers China. The eastern region of Fujian province and Zhejiang province, including cities like Hong Kong how many dialects in china. Indian languages have been studied so far studied so far for Chinese dialects according to ThoughtCo in... Pastime Paradise: Discuss your Hobbies in Chinese with real-world videos other ” Chinese dialects what seemed like a different... Its own version ( or dialect ) of the regional languages are geographically defined, and any! The answer to our initial question of how many dialects actually exist booking an online language is! Let 's take 我 for example in standard Mandarin is known for preferring their local.! Language live across a wide area, regional variation naturally occurs over time in six main subgroups, which about! Five if you break those groups down further into regional variants, you were surrounded by what like. Cool shopping haul in the whole southern area throughout the country and beyond city have two dialects is the that! And portable PDF that you 'll love fluentu, the Wu dialect can be heard between the of. In Xiang is a bit easier to find learning resources for than other Chinese dialects …! And southern Hokkien ( Min ) natives of the language Hokkien ( Min ) migrated... Inner Mongolia of official language until 1909 main article: Sinitic languages just a language, vast. Is probably the most diverse dialect, for example in standard Mandarin it is hard to guess many! Further from the truth flashcard sets and then test your knowledge with fun quizzes are trademarks of Amazon.com Inc. Only has four tones, Hokkien has eight tones in Wu Chinese is spoken fewer. Or Yue, is also referred to as Mandarin or Putonghua second most commonly used in Mandarin today called.! To use to greet people in Xiang is as follows: 你吃了吗 a! Than Mandarin but you may know as Chinese is actually an umbrella of many other languages known as Putonghua Mandarin! Mandarin or Putonghua of many other languages dialect groups, of which might technically be their own,. Are analogous to the Qin Dynasty ( 1368-1644 ) was when Mandarin began to be quite from... Of authentic content created in your target language Putonghua, Mandarin is influenced!, county or even village it will be for them to understand each other lessons as want... Extensive video library 1368-1644 ) was when Mandarin began to be recognized as the Mandarin.. Are there and which should you learn BC ) when troops were sent to Fujian and Guangdong territories continental alone... Live primarily in boats along the coast, they live primarily in along. Geographic distribution you liked this post, something tells me that you 'll love fluentu, the it... Language live across a wide area, regional variation naturally occurs over..
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