1. Proto-Sino-Tibetan: The earliest known ancestor of Chinese is a hypothetical language called Proto-Sino-Tibetan, which is thought to have been spoken around 4,000-6,000 years ago. We don't have any written records from this period.
2. The Rise of Writing: Around the 13th century BC, the first written forms of Chinese, known as "oracle bone script", emerged. This was a system of pictographic symbols carved onto bones and turtle shells used for divination.
3. Development of Logographic Characters: Over time, these pictographs evolved and became increasingly stylized. They began to represent abstract concepts and sounds, leading to the development of the complex logographic system we see today.
4. The Emergence of "Classical Chinese": Around the 3rd century BC, a standardized form of Chinese emerged, known as "Classical Chinese". This was used primarily for literary and official purposes, and it differed significantly from the spoken language.
5. The Rise of Dialects: Over the centuries, regional variations in pronunciation and vocabulary led to the emergence of numerous Chinese dialects. These dialects are sometimes so different that speakers of different dialects may have difficulty understanding each other.
6. The Standardization of Mandarin: In the 20th century, the Mandarin dialect was chosen as the standard language for modern China. This was a result of various factors, including its widespread use and the fact that it was the dialect spoken in the capital city of Beijing.
Key Points:
* Evolution, not invention: The Chinese language didn't come about because someone sat down and designed it. It developed gradually over centuries as people adapted their spoken language to their written forms.
* Logographic system: Chinese is unique for its use of logographic characters, which represent entire words or concepts rather than individual sounds.
* Multiple dialects: The diversity of Chinese dialects reflects the language's long history and the vast geographical area it covers.
In essence, the Chinese language didn't have a single inventor, but rather a long and complex history of evolution, adaptation, and standardization.