粤语的产生和发展显示汉语方言形成的一种模式:多个源语言,而以汉语为主;通语在不同时代对方言施以影响,造成不同的层次;分化与融合互相交错。粤语类型的汉语方言形成的历史轨迹在大模样上近似谱系树,细节上则往往呈网状;造成这种状况的,是汉语通语的波形扩散及其导致的区域性语言聚变。可以用“珠江三角洲水网状”来比喻这一模式。
The origin and evolution of Yue group reveals the features of a formation model for the Chinese dialects: with multiple languages as origin but Chinese the main one; with different strata caused by the impacts from the common language in different historical times;with interlaced forces of division and merger. Yue group looks like a pedigree tree in the big picture but more resembles a web when studied in detail, which is a result of local language fusion caused by the wave diffusion of the common Chinese. The proposed model can be compared to river networks, as can be seen along the Pearl River Delta.