List of Chinese dialects

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Geographic distribution of Sinitic language families within the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China
Geographic distribution of Sinitic language families within the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China

The following is a list of Chinese dialects and languages.

Contents

[edit] Classification

Linguists classify these languages as the Sinitic branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Within this broad classification, linguistics identify between seven and fourteen subgroups.

[edit] Tradition classification

Traditional Chinese classification lists seven groups, including:

• Gan
• Guan (Mandarin or Beifang)
• Kejia (Hakka)
• Min (including the Hokkien and Taiwanese variants)
• Wu
• Xiang
• Yue (Cantonese)

(shown here with the romanized Standard Mandarin names of the categories, ordered alphabetically).

[edit] Modern linguistic classification

James Matisoff's widely accepted[citation needed] classification includes:

Mandarin → Jin
Wu → Hui
Cantonese → Ping
Min
Xiang
Hakka
Gan

Matisoff's list uses the common English names of the groups, ordered by decreasing number of speakers of languages within the group.

[edit] Ethnologue

The Ethnologue lists 14 language groups,[1] including:

Chinese, Gan (Gan)
Chinese, Hakka (Kejia)
Chinese, Huizhou (Hui)
Chinese, Jinyu (Jin)
Chinese, Mandarin (Mandarin)
Chinese, Min Bei (Min → Min Bei)
Chinese, Min Dong (Min → Min Dong)
Chinese, Min Nan (Min → Min Nan)
Chinese, Min Zhong (Min → Min Zhong)
Chinese, Pu-Xian (Min → Pu-Xian)
Chinese, Wu (Wu)
Chinese, Xiang (Xiang)
Chinese, Yue (Yue (Cantonese))
Dungan (Mandarin → Dungan)

See also Campbell's article on classifying Chinese dialects[2] and ChinaDC's chart of Sino-Tibetan languages.[3]

As the above categories illustrate, there are three common approaches to naming categories and languages in English:

  • A Romanization of the name in Standard Mandarin (e.g. "Gan" or "Xiang")
  • The common English name, where there is one (e.g. "Cantonese" or "Mandarin")
  • A Romanization of the name in the principal language of the group (e.g. "Hakka" or "Hokkien")

The classification used here is a combination of the classifications given above.

[edit] Distinction between dialects and languages

In addition to the languages and dialects given below, it is customary to speak informally of languages and dialects belonging to each province, e.g. Sichuan dialect, Henan dialect. These designations do not always correspond to classifications used by linguists, but each nevertheless has approximate characteristics of its own.

The question of whether these should be called dialects or languages in their own right is particularly interesting in Chinese. On the one hand, the designation seems to be as much socio-political as linguistic, reflecting Max Weinreich's comment that "a language is a dialect with an army and a navy." Purely from a linguistic point of view, many of these idioms seem to meet the criteria of a language. On the other hand, to a large degree the various Chinese idioms share a common written language and literature, lending weight to calling them "dialects". Because the written language is grammatically closest to Standard Mandarin, many Chinese speakers view Standard Mandarin as "the Chinese language", and everything else as dialects.

[edit] List of dialects and languages

[edit] Gan - 赣语/贛語

Main article: Gan (linguistics)
  • Dongkou dialect 洞口話
  • Huaining dialect 懷寧話
  • Fuzhou (Jiangxi) dialect 撫州話
  • Ji'an (Jiangxi) dialect 吉安話
  • Leiyang dialect 耒陽話
  • Nanchang dialect 南昌話
  • Xianning dialect 鹹寧話
  • Yichun dialect 宜春話
  • Yingtan dialect 鷹潭話

[edit] Guan (Mandarin) - 官话/官話

The eight main dialect areas of Mandarin in Mainland China.
The eight main dialect areas of Mandarin in Mainland China.
Main article: Mandarin (linguistics)
Beijing Mandarin 北京官話
  • Beijing dialect 北京话/北京話
  • Standard Mandarin [4]
  • Chengde dialect 承德話
  • Chifeng dialect 赤峰話
  • Hailar dialect 海拉爾話
  • Karamay dialect 克拉瑪依話
Ji Lu Mandarin 冀魯官話
  • Baoding dialect 保定話
  • Jinan dialect 濟南話
  • Shijiazhuang dialect 石家莊話
  • Tianjin dialect 天津話
Jianghuai Mandarin 江准官話
  • Hefei dialect 合肥話
  • Hainan Junjiahua 軍家話
  • Nanjing dialect 南京話
  • Nantong dialect 南通話
  • Xiaogan dialect
  • Yangzhou dialect 揚州話
Jiao Liao Mandarin 膠遼官話
  • Dalian dialect 大连话/大連話
  • Qingdao dialect 青岛话/青島話
  • Weihai dialect 威海話
  • Yantai dialect 烟台话/煙台話
Lan Yin Mandarin 蘭銀官話
  • Dungan language 東干語
  • Lanzhou dialect 蘭州話
  • Urumqi dialect of Chinese
  • Xining dialect 西宁话/西寧話
  • Yinchuan dialect 银川话/銀川話
Northeast China Mandarin 东北官话/東北官話
  • Changchun dialect 长春话/長春話
  • Harbin dialect 哈尔浜话/哈爾濱話
  • Qiqihar dialect 斉斉哈尔话/齊齊哈爾話
  • Shenyang dialect 沈阳话/瀋陽話
Southwestern Mandarin 西南官话/西南官話
  • Changde dialect
  • Chengdu dialect 成都话/成都話
  • Chongqing dialect 重慶話
  • Dali dialect 大理話
  • Guiyang dialect 貴陽話
  • Kunming dialect 昆明話
  • Liuzhou dialect 柳州話
  • Wuhan dialect 武漢話
  • Xichang dialect 西昌話
  • Yichang dialect 宜昌話
Zhongyuan Mandarin 中原官話
  • Hanzhong dialect 漢中話
  • Kaifeng dialect 開封話
  • Kashgar dialect of Chinese 喀什話
  • Luoyang dialect 洛陽話
  • Nanyang dialect 南陽話
  • Qufu dialect 曲埠話
  • Leyang dialect 天水話
  • Xi'an dialect 西安話
  • Xuzhou dialect 徐州話
  • Yan'an dialect 延安話
  • Zhengzhou dialect 郑州话/鄭州話

[edit] Hui - 徽語

Main article: Hui (linguistics)

Sometimes subcategory of Wu.

  • Jixi (Anhui) dialect
  • Shexian (Anhui) dialect 歙縣話
  • Tunxi dialect 屯溪話
  • Yixian (Anhui) dialect

[edit] Jin - 晋语/晉語

Main article: Jin (linguistics)

Sometimes subcategory of Mandarin.

  • Baotou dialect 包頭話
  • Datong dialect 大同話
  • Handan dialect 邯郸话
  • Hohhot dialect 呼市話
  • Taiyuan dialect 太原話
  • Xinxiang dialect 新乡话

[edit] Kejia (Hakka) - 客家話

Main article: Hakka (linguistics)
  • Huizhou (Guangdong) Hakka dialect 惠州客家話
  • Meizhou Hakka dialect 梅州客家話
  • Wuhua Hakka dialect 五華客家話
  • Xingning Hakka dialect 興寧客家話
  • Pingyuan Hakka dialect 平遠客家話
  • Jiaoling Hakka dialect 蕉嶺客家話
  • Dapu Hakka dialect 大埔客家話
  • Fengshun Hakka dialect 豐順客家話
  • Longyan Hakka dialect 龍岩客家話

[edit] Min - 閩語/闽语

Main article: Min (linguistics)
Min Bei (Northern Min) 閩北語
  • Jian'ou dialect 建甌話
Min Dong (Eastern Min) 閩東語
  • Fu'an dialect 福安話
   • Fuding dialect 福鼎話
   • Xiapu dialect 霞浦話
   • Shouning dialect 壽寧話
   • Zhouning dialect 周寧話
   • Ningde dialect 寧德話
   • Zherong dialect 柘榮話
  • Fuzhou dialect (Hók-ciŭ-uâ) 福州話
   • Minhou dialect 閩侯話
   • Yongtai dialect 永泰話
   • Minqing dialect 閩清話
   • Changle dialect 長樂話
   • Luoyuan dialect 羅源話
   • Lianjiang dialect 連江話
   • Fuqing dialect (Hók-chiăng-uâ) 福清話
   • Pingtan dialect 平潭話
   • Pingnan dialect 屏南話
   • Gutian dialect 古田話
Min Nan (Southern Min) 閩南語
• Mintai division 閩台片
  • Quanzhou dialect 泉州話
  • Xiamen dialect (Hokkien) 廈門話
   • Taiwanese (see regional variations) [5] 台灣話
   • Lan-nang dialect (Filipino Hokkien) 咱人話/咱儂話 (菲律賓福建話)
  • Zhangzhou dialect 漳州話
   • Penang Hokkien 檳城福建話
• Zhenan division 浙南片
  • Longhai dialect 龍海話
  • Zhangpu dialect 漳浦話
  • Anxi dialect 安溪話
  • Hui'an dialect 惠安話
  • Tong'an dialect 同安話
• Chaoshan division 潮汕方言
  • Chaozhou dialect (Teochew) 潮州話
  • Shantou dialect (Swatow) 汕頭話
  • Chaoyang dialect 潮陽話
  • Puning dialect 普寧話
  • Huilai dialect 惠來話
  • Hailufeng dialect 海陸豐話
• Zhongshan Min division 中山閩方言
  • Longdu dialect 隆都話
  • Sanxiang dialect 三鄉話
  • Zhangjiabian dialect 張家邊話
Min Zhong (Central Min) 閩中語
  • Yong'an dialect 永安話
  • Sanming dialect 三明話
  • Shaxian dialect 沙縣話
Pu Xian 莆仙話
  • Putian dialect 莆田話
  • Xianyou dialect 仙遊話
Qiong Wen 瓊文片
  • Hainan dialect (Hainanese) 海南話
Leizhou 雷語
  • Leizhou dialect 雷州話
  • Zhanjiang dialect 湛江話

[edit] Wu - 吴语/吳語

Main article: Wu (linguistics)
Taihu division 太湖片
  • Changzhou dialect 常州話/常州话
  • Suzhou dialect 苏州话/蘇州話
  • Wuxi dialect 无锡话/無錫話
  • Hangzhou dialect 杭州話/杭州话
  • Huzhou dialect 湖州話/湖州话
  • Jiaxing dialect 嘉興話/嘉兴话
  • Shaoxing dialect 紹興話/绍兴话
  • Ningbo dialect 寧波話/宁波话
  • Shanghai dialect (Shanghainese) 上海話/上海话
Taizhou division 台州片
  • Taizhou dialect 台州話
  • Linhai dialect 臨海話
  • Sanmen dialect 三門話
  • Tiantai dialect 天台話
  • Xianju dialect 仙居話
  • Huangyan dialect 黃岩話
  • Jiaojiang dialect 椒江話
  • Wenling dialect 溫嶺話
  • Yuhuan dialect 玉環話
  • Leqing dialect 樂清話
  • Ninghai dialect 寧海話
Dongou division 東甌片
  • Wenzhou dialect 溫州話
Wuzhou division 婺州片
  • Jinhua dialect 金華話
  • Lanxi dialect 蘭溪話
  • Pujiang dialect 浦江話
  • Yiwu dialect 義烏話
  • Dongyang dialect 東陽話
  • Pan'an dialect 磐安話
  • Yongkang dialect 永康話
  • Wuyi dialect 武義話
  • Jiande dialect 建德話
Chuqu division 處衢片
  • Lishui dialect 麗水話
  • Qingtian dialect 青田話
  • Quzhou dialect 衢州話
  • Shangrao dialect 上饒話
Xuanzhou division 宣州片
  • Xuancheng dialect 宣城話

[edit] Xiang - 湘语/湘語

Main article: Xiang (linguistics)
Chang Yi division
  • Changsha dialect 长沙话
  • Hengyang dialect 衡阳话
  • Hengnan dialect 衡南话
  • Hengshan dialect 衡山话
  • Hengdong dialect 衡东话
  • Qidong dialect 祈东话
  • Qiyang dialect 祈阳话
  • Leiyang dialect 耒阳话
  • Changning dialect 常宁话
  • Yiyang dialect 益阳话
  • Ningxiang dialect 宁乡话
  • Zhuzhou dialect 株洲话
  • Changde dialect 常德话
Lou Shao division
  • Loudi dialect 娄底话
  • Shaoyang dialect 邵阳话
  • Shuangfeng dialect 双峰话
Chen Xu division
  • Chenxi dialect 郴西话
  • Xupu dialect 溆浦话

[edit] Yue (Cantonese) - 粵語/粤语

Main article: Cantonese (linguistics)
Yuehai division 粵海方言片
• Standard Cantonese (Guangfu) 廣府話
  • Guangzhou dialect 廣州話
  • Hong Kong Cantonese 香港廣東話
  • Vietnamese Cantonese 越南白話
  • Danjia dialect 蜑家話
• Sanyi dialect (Samyap) 三邑方言/南番順方言
  • Nanhai dialect 南海話
   • Jiujiang dialect 九江話
   • Xiqiao dialect 西樵話
  • Panyu dialect 番禺話
  • Shunde dialect 順德話
• Zhongshan dialect 中山方言/香山方言
  • Guzhen dialect 古鎮話
  • Shiqi dialect 石岐話
  • Sanjiao dialect 三角話
Guanbao division 莞寶方言片
  • Dongguan dialect 東莞話
  • Bao'an dialect (Waitau) 寶安粵方言 (圍頭話)
Luoguang division 羅廣方言片
  • Luoding dialect 羅定話
  • Guangning dialect 廣寧話
  • Zhaoqing dialect 肇慶話
  • Sihui dialect 四會話
  • Huaiji dialect 懷集話
  • Fengkai dialect 封開話
  • Deqing dialect 德慶話
  • Yunan dialect 郁南話
  • Yangshan dialect 陽山話
  • Lianzhou dialect 連州話
  • Lianshan dialect 連山話
  • Qingyuan dialect 清遠話
Siyi division (Seiyap) 四邑方言片
  • Taishan dialect 台山話
  • Xinhui dialect 新會話
   • Siqian dialect 司前話
  • Enping dialect 恩平話
  • Kaiping dialect 開平話
Gaoyang division 高陽方言片
  • Gaozhou dialect 高州話
  • Yangjiang dialect 陽江話
  • Maoming dialect 茂名話
Guinan division (Cancerese) 桂南方言片
  • Guilin dialect 桂林話
  • Nanning dialect 南寧話
  • Beihai dialect 北海話
  • Yulin dialect 玉林話
  • Wuzhou dialect 梧州話
Wuchuan dialect 吳川話

[edit] Unclassified

Danzhou dialect 儋州話 / 儋州话
Linghua
Maojiahua
Pingdi Yaohua
Shaozhou Tuhua 韶州土話 / 韶州土话
Wutunhua
Xianghua

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ethnologue report for Chinese. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
  2. ^ James Campbell. Chinese Dialect Classification. Glossika. Retrieved on 2006-08-30. Includes descriptions of the dialects spoken in over 2,500 cities and counties in China. Includes interactive map.
  3. ^ Linguistic chart of Sino-Tibetan Languages. ChineseDC.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-30. In Chinese.
  4. ^ Also known as Putonghua (which is also the official name in English) 普通话 in the People's Republic of China, Guoyu (also spelled Kuo-yü) 國語 in the Republic of China, Huayu 华语 in Singapore. The official sanction of Standard Mandarin as an official language has also given rise to the following varieties of Standard Mandarin in areas that did not originally speak any dialect of the Mandarin group:
  5. ^ Includes:
    • Central Taiwanese
    • Northeastern coastal Taiwanese
    • Northern Taiwanese
    • Southern Taiwanese