What language family does Chinese belong to?
Q: What language family does Chinese belong to?
A: Chinese belongs to the Han-Tibetan language family.
Q: How many local languages are there in Chinese?
A: There are hundreds of local languages in Chinese.
Q: What is the most significant variation found in the southeastern mountainous region?
A: The most significant variation found in the southeastern mountainous region is that there are seven main groups of languages, which include Mandarin, Wu, Min, Xiang, Gan, Hakka and Yue.
Q: How do Chinese varieties differ from each other?
A: Chinese varieties differ most in their phonology (sounds), but have similar vocabulary and syntax (grammar). Southern varieties tend to have fewer initial consonants but more often preserve the Middle Chinese final consonants. All have tones while northern varieties have fewer tones. Many also have tone sandhi (biandao). Zhejiang coast and eastern Guangdong has some of the most complex patterns.
Q: What is Standard Chinese based on?
A: Standard Chinese is based on the Beijing dialect. Its vocabulary is based on Mandarin group and grammar based on literature in the modern written vernacular.
Q: Where is Standard Chinese used as an official language?
A: Standard Chinese is used as an official language of China, one of the four official languages of Singapore, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
