The existence of literary and colloquial readings (文白異讀), called tha̍k-im (讀音), is a prominent feature of some Hokkien dialects and indeed in many Sinitic varieties in the south. The bulk of literary readings (文讀, bûn-tha̍k), based on pronunciations of the vernacular during the Tang Dynasty, are mainly used in formal phrases and written language (e.g. philosophical concepts, surnames, and some place names), while the colloquial (or vernacular) ones (白讀, pe̍h-tha̍k) are basically used in spoken language and vulgar phrases. Literary readings are more similar to the pronunciations of the Tang standard of Middle Chinese than their colloquial equivalents. COUNT 4
QSN1 What are literary and colloquial readings called? ANS1 tha̍k-im QSN2 What is another name for colloquial? ANS2 vernacular) QSN3 Literary readings are usually used where? ANS3 formal phrases and written language QSN4 colloquial reading are usually used where? ANS4 spoken language and vulgar phrases