| − | '''Mandarin''' is the most widely spoken dialect of spoken Chinese. It is referred to as ''Pǔtōnghuà'' in China, ''Guóyǔ'' in Taiwan, and ''Huáyǔ'' in Singapore. In its modern form, Mandarin is based on the dialect of Beijing. Localisms, such as the final ''r'' sound favored by Beijing residents, are not part of the standard form. Although each city in China has a distinct accent, the spoken language in the northern and central regions is of a single type. In contrast, the dialects spoken in the South, such as Cantonese, are not intelligible to Mandarin speakers. | + | '''Mandarin''' is the most widely spoken dialect of Chinese. It is referred to as ''Pǔtōnghuà'' in China, ''Guóyǔ'' in Taiwan, and ''Huáyǔ'' in Singapore. In its modern form, Mandarin is based on the dialect of Beijing. Localisms, such as the final ''r'' sound favored by Beijing residents, are not part of the standard form. Although each city in China has a distinct accent, the spoken language in the northern and central regions is of a single type. In contrast, the dialects spoken in the South, such as Cantonese, are not intelligible to Mandarin speakers. |