'''Mandarin Chinese''', also known as '''P'ut'onghua''' ([[Wade-Giles]] system) '''Putonghua''' ([[pinyin]] system) (Chinese: '''普通话'''), is the national language of [[China]] and [[Taiwan]]. It is also an [[official language]] in [[Singapore]] and is widely spoken in [[Malaysia]] and other parts of [[South East Asia]].
+
'''Mandarin Chinese''', also known as '''Putonghua'''('''普通话'''),is the national language of [[China]] and [[Taiwan]]. It is also an [[official language]] in [[Singapore]] and is widely spoken in [[Malaysia]] and other parts of [[South East Asia]].
−
−
Although it is now spoken by many people in mainland China, Mandarin was originally a dialect of learned and noble people. The Chinese name 滿大稟 (''mantalin'') means '''most high report''', indicating the earlier status of Mandarin as a court language.
−
−
Other dialects of Chinese are [[Cantonese]], [[Wu]], [[Min]], and [[Tsou]].