The language so eccentric in its phonology that it is especially difficult for any non-native speaker to learn. It has the reputation of being the "least comprehensible dialect" of any Chinese-based spoken language. Therefore the term "dialect" is really a misnomer. Wenzhou dialect, however, is not a language isolate, but is in fact similar to a combining the two language groups between which it is located.
Classification
In the linguistic mosaic that makes up China, spoken language is especially diverse in Zhejiang province, where Wenzhou is located. The Wenzhou dialect further consists of many sub-dialects. When people refer to the standard Wenzhou Dialect, they usually mean the language spoken by the people living in more developed areas of Wenzhou, i.e. Lucheng, Ouhai, Longwan, Yongjia, Ruian, and Yueqing. The dialect's sound system changes almost comprehensively every ten kilometers, especially in rural areas. Although the dialects spoken by people of the above regions can be understood by each other, they differ from each other in the accent and certain pronunciation.
Reputation for Eccentricity
Due to its high degree of eccentricity, the language is reputed to have been used during the Second Sino-Japanese War during wartime communication. Due to its unique grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, the language is basically impossible for any non-local to understand.
There is a famous rhymed saying in China that goes, "Do not fear the heavens and the earth , but be afraid of hearing a person from Wenzhou speak in their local tongue."
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