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The English word "mandarin" originates from a Sanskrit word meaning "minister or counsellor."
Answer: True
Explanation: The etymological pathway of the English term "mandarin" traces back through Portuguese and Malay to Sanskrit roots signifying "minister or counsellor."
The Chinese term *GuÄnhuĆ * translates to "language of the people."
Answer: False
Explanation: *GuÄnhuĆ * literally translates to "language of the officials," reflecting its historical usage.
Linguists typically use the term "Mandarin" to refer to a specific regional dialect, not a broad group of dialects.
Answer: False
Explanation: Linguists use "Mandarin" to denote a broad group of dialects, not a single specific dialect.
Which of the following is NOT a name used by Chinese speakers for the modern standard language of Mandarin?
Answer: FÄngyĆ”n
Explanation: *FÄngyĆ”n* refers to regional dialects, not the standard language itself. *PĒtÅnghuĆ *, *GuĆ³yĒ*, and *HuĆ”yĒ* are all names used for the standard language in different regions.
How did the English word "mandarin" enter the language?
Answer: Via Portuguese *mandarim*, derived from Malay *menteri*.
Explanation: The English term "mandarin" was adopted from Portuguese *mandarim*, which itself originated from the Malay *menteri*, meaning 'minister or counsellor'.
Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century adopted the Chinese name *GuÄnhuĆ * and translated it as "mandarin" because they learned the language used by Ming and Qing dynasty officials.
Answer: True
Explanation: Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century learned the administrative language of Ming and Qing officials, known as *GuÄnhuĆ *, and subsequently translated this term into "mandarin."
The *Zhongyuan Yinyun*, compiled in 1324, codified the rhyming conventions of new verse based on Old Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: The *Zhongyuan Yinyun* is significant for codifying the rhyming practices of vernacular literature during the era of Old Mandarin.
The New Culture Movement played a role in advocating for written vernacular Chinese based on northern dialects as the written standard.
Answer: True
Explanation: The New Culture Movement was instrumental in promoting the adoption of written vernacular Chinese, derived from northern dialects, as the national written standard.
Forms of Mandarin have served as a lingua franca for Chinese government officials since the 18th century.
Answer: False
Explanation: Forms of Mandarin have served as a lingua franca for Chinese government officials since the 14th century, predating the 18th century.
In mainland China, the standard language is referred to as *GuĆ³yĒ*.
Answer: False
Explanation: In mainland China, the standard language is referred to as *PĒtÅnghuĆ *; *GuĆ³yĒ* is the term used in Taiwan.
Literary Chinese (*bĆ”ihuĆ *) was the primary form of formal writing until the early 20th century.
Answer: False
Explanation: Literary Chinese, not *bĆ”ihuĆ * (written vernacular), was the primary form of formal writing until the early 20th century.
The "late imperial koinƩ" was a common language used by Ming and Qing dynasty officials for administration, based on southern Mandarin varieties.
Answer: False
Explanation: The "late imperial koinƩ" was based on northern Mandarin varieties, not southern ones.
What historical event or group is credited with associating the term "Mandarin" with the Chinese language of officials?
Answer: Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century learning and translating the officials' language.
Explanation: Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century learned and translated the language of Ming and Qing dynasty officials, leading to the association of the term "Mandarin" with this administrative language.
What period is associated with the development of "Old Mandarin"?
Answer: Jin and Yuan Dynasties
Explanation: "Old Mandarin" refers to the common speech that developed in northern China during the Jin and Yuan dynasties.
What was the significance of the *Zhongyuan Yinyun*?
Answer: It codified the rhyming conventions of new verse based on Old Mandarin.
Explanation: The *Zhongyuan Yinyun*, compiled in 1324, is significant for codifying the rhyming conventions of vernacular literature based on Old Mandarin.
What form of Chinese was used for formal writing until the early 20th century?
Answer: Literary Chinese
Explanation: Literary Chinese, modeled on ancient classics, was the standard for formal writing until the early 20th century.
The "late imperial koinƩ" was based on which dialect group?
Answer: Northern Mandarin varieties
Explanation: The "late imperial koinƩ" used by Ming and Qing officials was based on northern Mandarin varieties.
Which movement was instrumental in campaigning for written vernacular Chinese based on northern dialects as the written standard?
Answer: The New Culture Movement
Explanation: The New Culture Movement was a key advocate for adopting written vernacular Chinese based on northern dialects as the national standard.
Mandarin dialects commonly retain retroflex initial consonants, which have been lost in many southern Chinese languages.
Answer: True
Explanation: This statement accurately reflects a common phonological characteristic of Mandarin dialects compared to many southern Chinese languages.
Northeastern Mandarin dialects, such as those spoken in Harbin, differ little from the Beijing dialect.
Answer: True
Explanation: Northeastern Mandarin dialects exhibit a high degree of similarity to the Beijing dialect, partly due to historical settlement patterns.
Taiwanese Mandarin's colloquial form is heavily influenced by Taiwanese Hokkien, featuring mergers of retroflex sounds with alveolars and the absence of *erhua*.
Answer: True
Explanation: The colloquial variant of Taiwanese Mandarin demonstrates significant influence from Taiwanese Hokkien, notably in sound mergers and the omission of *erhua*.
Mandarin dialects commonly feature the palatalization of velar consonants and alveolar sibilants before palatal glides.
Answer: True
Explanation: The palatalization of velar consonants and alveolar sibilants before palatal glides is a characteristic phonological feature found in many Mandarin dialects.
Middle Chinese final stops (/p/, /t/, /k/) have generally disappeared in most Mandarin dialects, but have been reduced to a final glottal stop /Ź/ in Lower Yangtze dialects.
Answer: True
Explanation: While Middle Chinese final stops have largely vanished in most Mandarin dialects, they have been reduced to a final glottal stop in Lower Yangtze dialects.
Mandarin dialects generally preserve Middle Chinese medial glides /j/ and /w/, resulting in diphthongs and triphthongs.
Answer: True
Explanation: The preservation of Middle Chinese medial glides /j/ and /w/ in Mandarin dialects leads to the formation of numerous diphthongs and triphthongs.
How does the colloquial form of Taiwanese Mandarin differ from mainland Standard Mandarin?
Answer: It features mergers of retroflex sounds with alveolars and lacks *erhua*.
Explanation: The colloquial form of Taiwanese Mandarin is influenced by Taiwanese Hokkien, leading to mergers of retroflex sounds with alveolars and the absence of *erhua*.
Which of the following is a shared phonological feature commonly found across Mandarin dialects?
Answer: The palatalization of velar consonants and alveolar sibilants before palatal glides.
Explanation: The palatalization of velar consonants and alveolar sibilants before palatal glides is a common phonological feature across many Mandarin dialects.
In many southwestern Mandarin dialects, what happens to the medial glide /w/ after apical initials?
Answer: It is often lost.
Explanation: In numerous southwestern Mandarin dialects, the medial glide /w/ is frequently omitted after apical initials.
How do the initials /l/ and /n/ typically differ in treatment between Southwestern Mandarin and Lower Yangtze Mandarin?
Answer: Southwestern merges them into /n/, Lower Yangtze into /l/.
Explanation: Southwestern Mandarin dialects typically merge /l/ and /n/ into /n/, while Lower Yangtze Mandarin dialects usually merge them into /l/.
What is the typical development of Middle Chinese final stops in Lower Yangtze dialects?
Answer: They have been reduced to a final glottal stop /Ź/.
Explanation: In Lower Yangtze dialects, Middle Chinese final stops are typically reduced to a final glottal stop /Ź/.
What is the function of neutral tones in Mandarin phonology?
Answer: To create short, light syllables, often on the second syllable of a word.
Explanation: Neutral tones in Mandarin typically function to create short, light syllables, frequently occurring on the second syllable of a word.
The subordinative particle *de* in Mandarin is used to mark possession or modification and is absent in some southern dialects.
Answer: True
Explanation: The particle *de* is a characteristic subordinative element in Mandarin, used for possession or modification, and its absence or variation is noted in some southern dialects.
Mandarin Chinese is a synthetic language, relying heavily on inflection to convey grammatical information.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mandarin Chinese is an analytic language, primarily using word order and particles rather than inflection.
How does Mandarin primarily address the issue of numerous homophones?
Answer: By adding affixes, compounding words, or using similar meanings.
Explanation: Mandarin addresses homophones by forming new words through affixes, compounding, or combining similar meanings, leading to polysyllabic words.
What is the characteristic of noun reduplication in Southwestern Mandarin dialects?
Answer: It is frequently used, for example, *bÄobÄo* for 'handbag'.
Explanation: Southwestern Mandarin dialects frequently employ noun reduplication, a feature less common in Beijing Mandarin, as exemplified by *bÄobÄo* for 'handbag'.
Which of the following is an example of a loanword in Mandarin reflecting historical contact with other cultures?
Answer: HĆ¹tĆ²ng (alley)
Explanation: *HĆ¹tĆ²ng* (alley) is an example of a loanword in Mandarin, originating from Mongolian or Manchurian, reflecting historical cultural contact.
Where does vocabulary variation tend to be greatest among different Mandarin dialects?
Answer: Kinship terms and slang
Explanation: Vocabulary variation is generally most pronounced in informal registers, such as slang and kinship terms, rather than in formal or technical vocabulary.
How does Mandarin Chinese convey grammatical information?
Answer: Mainly through word order and particles.
Explanation: Mandarin Chinese conveys grammatical information primarily through word order and the use of particles, rather than through inflection.
In ditransitive sentences, how does the word order typically differ between northern Mandarin dialects and southern or southwestern dialects?
Answer: Northern dialects place the indirect object before the direct object.
Explanation: Northern Mandarin dialects typically place the indirect object before the direct object in ditransitive sentences, unlike many southern and southwestern dialects.
What is the function of the particle *le* in most Mandarin dialects?
Answer: Marks perfective aspect.
Explanation: The particle *le* in most Mandarin dialects functions to mark perfective aspect.
The Dungan people in Central Asia speak dialects descended from Central Plains Mandarin and write their language using the Cyrillic script.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Dungan language, spoken in Central Asia, is derived from Central Plains Mandarin and is written using the Cyrillic script.
Mandarin is the smallest branch of the Sinitic language family in terms of speaker numbers.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mandarin is, in fact, the largest branch of the Sinitic language family by speaker numbers.
Many Mandarin varieties are mutually intelligible with the Beijing dialect.
Answer: False
Explanation: A significant number of Mandarin varieties exhibit limited or no mutual intelligibility with the Beijing dialect due to considerable regional variations.
Mandarin is primarily spoken in southern and eastern China.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mandarin is primarily spoken in northern and southwestern China.
The North China Plain's mountainous terrain contributed to the linguistic homogeneity of Mandarin dialects in northern China.
Answer: False
Explanation: The North China Plain's *lack* of significant mountainous terrain facilitated migration and contributed to linguistic homogeneity, unlike the more diverse south.
Singapore's "Speak Mandarin Campaign," launched in 1979, led to an increase in the use of traditional vernacular Chinese languages.
Answer: False
Explanation: The campaign prioritized Mandarin, leading to an increase in its use and a decrease in traditional vernacular languages.
The Dungan people in Central Asia speak dialects descended from Southern Chinese languages and use the Latin script.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Dungan language descends from Central Plains Mandarin, not Southern Chinese languages, and uses the Cyrillic script.
The southern boundary of the Mandarin area is clearly defined due to distinct geographical barriers.
Answer: False
Explanation: The southern boundary of the Mandarin area is weakly defined due to diffusion and mixed features, not clear geographical barriers.
What is the primary reason cited for Mandarin's widespread distribution and influence in China?
Answer: Easier travel and communication in the North China Plain and expansion into frontier regions.
Explanation: The relative ease of travel and communication across the North China Plain, coupled with expansion into frontier territories, is cited as a primary factor for Mandarin's widespread distribution.
What factor contributed to the relative linguistic homogeneity of Mandarin dialects in northern China?
Answer: The North China Plain having fewer geographical barriers to migration.
Explanation: The relatively open terrain of the North China Plain facilitated migration and interaction, contributing to greater linguistic homogeneity among Mandarin dialects in northern China.
What was the impact of Singapore's "Speak Mandarin Campaign" launched in 1979?
Answer: It promoted Mandarin over traditional vernacular Chinese languages.
Explanation: The "Speak Mandarin Campaign" in Singapore prioritized Mandarin, leading to increased usage and a decline in the use of other vernacular Chinese languages.
In which country is Mandarin less prevalent in daily life among the Chinese community compared to Singapore?
Answer: Malaysia
Explanation: While Mandarin is used in Malaysian Chinese schools, Hokkien and Cantonese are more prevalent in daily life, making it less widespread than in Singapore.
What script do the Dungan people in Central Asia use to write their language, which is descended from Central Plains Mandarin?
Answer: Cyrillic script
Explanation: The Dungan language, derived from Central Plains Mandarin, is written using the Cyrillic script.
Traditionally, Mandarin, Wu, Gan, Xiang, Min, Hakka, and Yue are recognized as the seven major groups of Chinese dialects.
Answer: True
Explanation: This enumeration represents the historically recognized seven major dialect groups within the Chinese language family.
Which of the following is NOT one of the traditionally recognized major groups of Chinese dialects?
Answer: Tibetan
Explanation: Tibetan is a distinct language family, not a group of Chinese dialects. The traditional seven major groups are Mandarin, Wu, Gan, Xiang, Min, Hakka, and Yue.
According to the *Language Atlas of China*, what is the primary basis for dividing Mandarin into its eight dialect groups?
Answer: The treatment of the Middle Chinese entering tone.
Explanation: The *Language Atlas of China* categorizes Mandarin into eight dialect groups primarily based on how they treat the Middle Chinese entering tone.