Difference between revisions of "Mandarin Chinese"
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| − | '''Mandarin''' is the [[official language|official spoken language]] of [[China]] and [[Taiwan]] and is one of the four official languages of [[Singapore]]. It is spoken in | + | '''Mandarin''' is the [[official language|official spoken language]] of [[China]] and [[Taiwan]] and is one of the four official languages of [[Singapore]]. It is widely spoken in [[Malaysia]] and other parts of [[Southeast Asia]]. Mandarin has different official names in China, Taiwan, and Singapore. |
In China, Mandarin is officially known as Putonghua ([[Traditional Chinese]]: 普通話; [[Simplified Chinese]]: 普通话; [[Hanyu Pinyin]]: Pǔtōnghuà). | In China, Mandarin is officially known as Putonghua ([[Traditional Chinese]]: 普通話; [[Simplified Chinese]]: 普通话; [[Hanyu Pinyin]]: Pǔtōnghuà). | ||
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In Singapore, it is officially known as Huayu ([[Traditional Chinese]]: 華語; [[Simplified Chinese]]: 华语; [[Hanyu Pinyin]]: Huáyǔ). | In Singapore, it is officially known as Huayu ([[Traditional Chinese]]: 華語; [[Simplified Chinese]]: 华语; [[Hanyu Pinyin]]: Huáyǔ). | ||
| − | Mandarin is | + | Mandarin is the dialect which originated in [[Beijing]], China's capital for the last millennium, and has thus spread throughout the country as a ''lingua franca''. Since the beginning of the Communist regime in 1949, it has been enforced as the official spoken language in all schools and governmental offices. |
[[Category:Sino-Tibetan languages]] | [[Category:Sino-Tibetan languages]] | ||
[[Category:China]] | [[Category:China]] | ||
[[Category:Taiwan]] | [[Category:Taiwan]] | ||
Revision as of 05:13, July 4, 2009
Mandarin is the official spoken language of China and Taiwan and is one of the four official languages of Singapore. It is widely spoken in Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia. Mandarin has different official names in China, Taiwan, and Singapore.
In China, Mandarin is officially known as Putonghua (Traditional Chinese: 普通話; Simplified Chinese: 普通话; Hanyu Pinyin: Pǔtōnghuà).
In Taiwan, it is officially known as Guoyu (Traditional Chinese: 國語; Simplified Chinese: 国语; Hanyu Pinyin: Guóyǔ).
In Singapore, it is officially known as Huayu (Traditional Chinese: 華語; Simplified Chinese: 华语; Hanyu Pinyin: Huáyǔ).
Mandarin is the dialect which originated in Beijing, China's capital for the last millennium, and has thus spread throughout the country as a lingua franca. Since the beginning of the Communist regime in 1949, it has been enforced as the official spoken language in all schools and governmental offices.