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What languages are spoken in China? |
People & Places
There are a variety of language dialects spoken in China. Have you ever heard of the word dialect? A dialect is a variety of a language that is different from other versions of the same language (like by things such as sounds, pronunciation, or grammar). Dialects are usually specific to a certain place or group of people.
In China, the many spoken dialects are so different from each other that lots of people consider them to be completely separate languages! In fact, the differences can be so big that people who speak one dialect often cannot understand a different dialect at all.
Some of the most commonly spoken dialects include Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, Northern Min, Southern Min, Hunanese, and and Gan. Mandarin is the official language of the Chinese government and is said to have about one billion speakers, more than any other language in the whole world!
In China, the many spoken dialects are so different from each other that lots of people consider them to be completely separate languages! In fact, the differences can be so big that people who speak one dialect often cannot understand a different dialect at all.
Some of the most commonly spoken dialects include Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, Northern Min, Southern Min, Hunanese, and and Gan. Mandarin is the official language of the Chinese government and is said to have about one billion speakers, more than any other language in the whole world!
Do you or anyone in your family speak a Chinese dialect? If so, which one? Or, do you have any friends or classmates who speak Chinese? Ask him or her to teach you a few words! Start with basic words like “hello,” “goodbye,” “please,” and “thank you.” Then, if you speak any second languages, teach your friend those same words in your other language! – Cool!
