Jin Chinese
Jin Chinese refers to a group of closely-related Sinitic languages traditionally spoken in Shanxi, northern Shaanxi, and parts of Inner Mongolia. It is one of the ten major branches of Chinese, and it includes several subgroups and dialects such as Jin, Pingyao, Xiangfen, and Yuci. The Jin Chinese varieties are characterized by their retention of final consonants, which have been lost in other Chinese languages, and their use of a distinctive set of initials. Historically, Jin Chinese was the prestige language in the region, and it has influenced the development of other Chinese languages, such as Mandarin. Today, Jin Chinese is still spoken by millions of people, although its use has declined due to the spread of Mandarin.