STANDARD CHINESE Meaning and
Definition
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Standard Chinese, also known as Standard Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of China and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. It is a standardized form of Chinese used primarily in China and throughout the Chinese-speaking world. As the most widely spoken form of Chinese, it serves as a lingua franca for the different varieties of the language spoken in various regions of China.
Standard Chinese is based on the Beijing dialect, but it differs from other Chinese dialects due to its pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and writing system. It is primarily based on the phonological features of the Beijing dialect but also incorporates elements from other Mandarin dialects. The vocabulary of Standard Chinese is mainly drawn from the Modern Standard Mandarin, which is based on the Beijing dialect.
Standard Chinese is written using Simplified Chinese characters in mainland China and Singapore, while in Taiwan and Hong Kong, it is written using Traditional Chinese characters. The grammar of Standard Chinese follows a subject-verb-object sentence structure and relies on tones to distinguish between words.
The promotion of Standard Chinese began in the early 20th century as part of efforts to unify the linguistically diverse regions of China. Today, it is taught in schools, used in official government communications, media, and is the common language used in daily life for most Chinese people.
Etymology of STANDARD CHINESE
The term "Standard Chinese" refers to the standard variety of Mandarin Chinese, which is the official language of China and one of the four official languages of Singapore. The etymology of the term can be broken down as follows:
1. Standard: The word "standard" in this context means a set of rules or guidelines that serve as a benchmark or reference point. In the case of "Standard Chinese", it signifies the variety of Mandarin that is considered the standard or official form of the language.
2. Chinese: The word "Chinese" denotes the language spoken by the Chinese people, primarily in China but also by Chinese communities worldwide. The term originated from the Sanskrit word "Cīna", which referred to the ancient dynasty called Qin (秦, pronouncing "Chin"). Over time, the term "Cīna" expanded to include the broader concept of the Chinese people and their language.
