Who speaks classical Chinese?

No one speaks Classical Chinese as their native language. It's a written language, not a spoken one. It's like saying, "Who speaks Old English?" while Old English is a written language that is no longer spoken.

Here's why:

* Classical Chinese is a written form of the Chinese language: It was primarily used for literature, philosophy, history, and official documents for centuries.

* Modern Chinese dialects have evolved from Classical Chinese: Over time, the spoken language diverged from the written Classical Chinese, and various dialects emerged.

* Mandarin is the standard spoken language of modern China: While Mandarin has roots in Classical Chinese, it's a distinct language with its own grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.

So, while Classical Chinese is still studied and understood by many, particularly scholars, it's not a language people speak in everyday life.