Changes

The first Ming emperor selected the Lower Yangtse dialect of Nanjing as a [[lingua franca]]. This dialect was referred to as ''Guānhuà'' ("officials' speech"). The word "Mandarin," first recorded in Portuguese, refers to a Chinese official. Classical Chinese continued to be used for formal writing, although popular works such as the novel ''The Golden Lotus'' (1610) were written in the Nanjing dialect. In the late nineteenth century, the dialect of Beijing displaced that of Nanjing. Although both cities speak dialects of the North Chinese language type, there is considerable divergence. In the 1920s, Classical Chinese was displaced by a writing system based on Beijing dialect.

The first Ming emperor selected the Lower Yangtse dialect of Nanjing as a [[lingua franca]]. This dialect was referred to as ''Guānhuà'' ("officials' speech"). The word "Mandarin," first recorded in Portuguese, refers to a Chinese official. Classical Chinese continued to be used for formal writing, although popular works such as the novel ''The Golden Lotus'' (1610) were written in the Nanjing dialect. In the late nineteenth century, the dialect of Beijing displaced that of Nanjing. Although both cities speak dialects of the North Chinese language type, there is considerable divergence. In the 1920s, Classical Chinese was displaced by a writing system based on Beijing dialect.

   

   

In the twentieth century, both the Nationalists and the Communists promoted the use of Mandarin in popular speech. This has occasionally been resisted by speakers of other dialects. The popularity Hong Kong-based pop culture has allowed the Cantonese-speaking South to resist the advance of Mandarin.

In the twentieth century, both the Nationalists and the Communists promoted the use of Mandarin in popular speech. This has occasionally been resisted by speakers of other dialects. The popularity of Hong Kong-based pop culture has allowed the Cantonese-speaking South to resist the advance of Mandarin.

==References==

==References==