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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 widely spoken in [[Malaysia]] and other parts of [[Southeast Asia]]. Mandarin has different official names in China, Taiwan, and Singapore.
'''Mandarin''' is the standard 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.
{{language box
|t=普通話
|s=普通话
|l=common speech
|p=Pǔtōnghuà
|w=p`u-t`ung-hua
}}
China was split North and South during the [[Song dynasty]] in the Middle Ages. The Mongols treated North and South China as separated countries. For example, Marco Polo writes of "Cathay" (North China) and "Manzi" (South China). By the time China was reunited by the [[Ming dynasty]] in 1368, North and South had drifted far apart. The dialect of [[Nanjing]] was chosen as a national standard. In the 1860s, Nanjing was depopulated by the [[Taiping Rebellion]]. As a result, its dialect was displaced by that of Beijing. Both cities speak dialects of the North Chinese type.
In China, Mandarin is officially known as Putonghua ([[Traditional Chinese]]: 普通話; [[Simplified Chinese]]: 普通话; [[Hanyu Pinyin]]: Pǔtōnghuà).
In imperial times, written [[Classical Chinese]] was the standard form of communication. This is the language spoken by Confucius in ancient times, and it is quite different than modern Chinese. Meanwhile, the use of Mandarin was restricted to novels and other forms of popular culture. In the 1920s, Mandarin largely displaced Classical Chinese in high-brow literature as well.
In the twentieth century, both the Nationalists and the Communists promoted the use of Mandarin. 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 Singapore, it is officially known as Huayu ([[Traditional Chinese]]: 華語; [[Simplified Chinese]]: 华语; [[Hanyu Pinyin]]: Huáyǔ).
[[Category:Sino-Tibetan languages]]
[[Category:Sino-Tibetan languages]]
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:Taiwan]]
[[Category:Taiwan]]