I have wanted to do a column on Chinese for some time, but China's linguistic reality far exceeds my space limitations. In order to provide a brief but valid overview, I've opted for a Frequently Asked Question format. With luck, the links will answer questions left unaddressed.
Q: Why do linguists avoid calling this language "Chinese?"
A: Chinese is actually a family of dialects (officially reckoned at eight) that are more or less mutually unintelligible. Because the word "Chinese" imparts little useful information, linguists prefer to cite dialects (Putonghua, Minnan, Yue, etc).
Q: But surely the dialects are basically the same?
A: Linguistically, yes. But in practical terms they're about as similar as Romance, Germanic, or Slavic languages. As a Russian vaguely understands Polish, so too do sinophones grasp some of a neighbouring dialect. Competency, however, requires study and practice.
Q: If the dialects are so different, why aren't they called languages?
A: They are, in some company. The problem is, neither "dialect" nor "language" are precise terms. Chinese traditions are called dialects because they developed within a single nation, although this criterion is unscientific.
Q: What are the eight dialects?
A: Putonghua (Mandarin); Yue (Cantonese); Wu (Shanghaiese); Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese); Minbei; Xiang; Gan; and Hakka. Some scholars dispute the numbers and/or labels.
Q: What's Nu Shu?
A: Southern Chinese women invented this writing system, apparently as a secret means of communication in their male-dominated society. Nu Shu is endangered now.
Q: Why should I bother to learn non-Putonghua dialects?
A: As the standard tradition, Putonghua claims most sinophone media and about two-thirds of speakers. However, the remaining third includes such important centres as Hong Kong, Canton, and Shanghai. Regional dialects also dominate most emigré communities. Vancouver, for example, is a bilingual English- and Yue-speaking city.
Q: Chinese has been called "the most powerful language in the world." True?
A: According to Ethnologue, Putonghua is the single most-spoken tradition in the solar system. (English is listed third, after Spanish.) Wu, Yue, Minnan, Xiang, and Hakka also made the top 30. Though such statistics aren't entirely reliable, Chinese clearly has something going on.
Q: What are tones?
A: Tones are an integral part of Chinese and a major difference between dialects. Simply put, tone is the difference between the spoken words "Right?" and "Right!" Chinese dialects have up to nine tones, which can dramatically change the meaning of words. For example, in Yue, mai dan can mean "pay the restaurant bill" or "buy eggs," depending on tone.
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