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Chinese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [topolect]

Questions regarding regional variants of the Chinese language

topolect is defined as:

A set of similar dialects constituting any of the larger distinct regional varieties of a language.

For example, Mandarin Chinese is a topolect that includes the dialects of Beijing and Nanjing, and is distinct from Hakka, another topolect of Chinese. [topo- + (dia)lect (translation of Chinese (Mandarin) fāngyán, regional speech : fāng, place + yán, language).]

Thus making it a more appropriate term for what are usually called 'dialects'.

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Which regions use 计算机 for computer?

Where is 计算机 used for "computer", and where does it mean "calculator". In regions where it means "calculator" what is the word for "supercomputer" (assuming that 超级计算机 is not used there)?
jsj
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Is Cantonese Chinese? 【广东话属于中文吗】

I recall an incident that occurred once in (Mainland) China, which I found puzzling and intriguing. It was in Zhengzhou, I think. There was some kind of sales activity where people were being given freebies, if they would come up in front of…
河南宝宝
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How widely is Mandarin used in Nanjing?

I know there is a Nanjing dialect of Jianghuai Mandarin but I have not been able to learn much about current usage in the city of Nanjing. For example, do many people in Nanjing today ordinarily begin words with an "l" sound where standard Mandarin…
Colin McLarty
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What dialect could this be? (Southern China)

I was yesterday in a bus in the HK neighbourhood called 上環/soeng6 waan4. A guy nearby was talking in a strange, almost alien-sounding, Chinese dialect. At some point he mentioned (what I suppose is answering a question) "tseng wan" -- with the "w"…
dda
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List of Beijing and Standard Chinese vocabulary

I am looking for a list that has a 1-on-1 mapping between common Beijing and Standard Chinese vocabulary. For instance, a native from Beijing one would say things like 今儿 and 這兒 which could then be mapped respectively to 今天 and 這裡 in standard…
Axel
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Data on the endangerment of Southwestern Mandarin?

I'm looking for some data on the endangerment of Southwestern Mandarin. Since it is rather a broad subject, it can be broken down to the Cheng–Yu 成渝 branch as it is quite representative of the language family. There is a section entitled status on…
Mou某
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Toneless Sinetic Dialects/Topolects

One of Mandarin's biggest characteristics is its tones. Other Sinitic dialects/topolects aren't any different: Cantonese, Hakka, etc. Question: Are there any toneless Sinitic dialects/topolects? (Japanese?)
Mou某
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Audio recognition: "kai bu dao ku" (Southwestern Mandarin)

Here is a link to the mp3: Vocaroo | Audio File This is a dialect of 西南官话, Southwestern Mandarin. My transcription: 就这个样子，我没有想到我今天还跟你们两个还可以这样子摆龙门阵。站起来就这样子，【开不到裤】了，造不造孽？那个活起有啥子意义嘛？是不是？ I'm struggling with the "kai bu dao ku" (开不到裤(?)) part. I've…
Mou某
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What topolects distingish between 娘 and 孃? Why?

In MSM 娘 and 孃 are usually considered one and the same, where 孃 is Traditional and 娘 is simplified. These two characters can practically be used interchangeably. In Southwestern Mandarin, however, a split has been maintained. It should be a little…
Mou某
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Do any good topolect maps exist for Chinese?

I've been rummaging through English dialect maps. Here's an example of one on Twitter: And an American one for good measure: Do any good topolect maps exist for Chinese?
Mou某
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Where is 蛮 used, as in the meaning of 'quite'?

I was watching a Chinese show today, where they said '蛮舒服'. Since I've never heard 蛮 before I looked it up, and the dictionary tells me that 蛮 is only used as 'quite' in dialect. Now my question is, where?
user2493
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Rule: tone sandhi in topolectical dictionaries

I'm looking for a rule or a guideline. Dictionaries dealing with MSM (Modern Standard Mandarin) would never include tone sandhi into their entries, as people are supposed to know the rules and apply them themselves. 你好 is always going to be ni3…
Mou某
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When is a 方言 a language and not a dialect

I have always thought, perhaps wrongly, that it was mutual intelligibility that was the deciding factor as to whether a 方言 would be considered a dialect or it's own separate language. Wikipedia's entry Dialect: Political Factors says: An opposite…
Mou某
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Asking "which language do you speak?" on the phone

I work at a medical call center. Many Asians will call in asking for a translator so we can schedule their appointments. Most of them will understand when I ask, "which language, Cantonese or Mandarin?" But I feel sometimes they did not understand…
Bryan
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Dialects/Topolects: Tone Marks?

Mandarin, as everyone probably knows, has four tones: 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th tone. Each tone has its own tone mark that represents that tone: 1st tone = ˉ (macron) 2nd tone = ˊ (acute accent) 3rd tone = ˇ (caron/háček) 4th tone = ˋ (grave accent) But…
Mou某
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