1. Distribution

The Huī 徽 dialects are distributed around the reaches of the Xīn’ān 新安 River in the area of the ancient Huīzhōu 徽州 and Yánzhōu 嚴州 prefectures, in 19 counties and cities of southern Ānhuī and adjoining areas of Jiāngxī and Zhèjiāng. The Huī-speaking population numbers about 3,200,000.

Huī dialects can be divided into the following five sub-dialects: Jì-Shè 績歙, Xiū-Yī 休黟, Qí-Wù 祁婺, Yánzhōu, and Jīng-Zhàn 旌占. There has long been a debate about which…