方言是一个历史范畴。经过漫长的历史时期，原始人群发展为氏族，产生了氏族共同语，开始出现方言。大约4000多年前，无阶级的氏族公社发展为有阶级的部落和部落联盟，于是出现了部落共同语。秦灭六国，建立了强有力的中央集权国家，部落共同语发展为部族共同语。秦汉以后直至隋唐宋，部族共同语日益巩固和发展。约14世纪，汉民族共同语开始形成。方言从出现之日起便逐步削弱，最终以至消灭。 Dialect is a historical category. After a long period of history, primitive people developed into clans, produced the clan common language, began to appear dialects. About 4,000 years ago, the classless clan commune developed into a classy tribal and tribal alliance, and tribal common language emerged. Qin eliminate six countries, established a strong centralization of power, tribal common language development for tribal common language. From the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Sui, Tang and Song dynasties, the tribal languages ​​became increasingly consolidated and developed. About 14th century, Han common language began to form. Dialect gradually weakened from the day it appeared, and eventually eliminated.