The Chinese language descended from the Sino-Tibetan linguistic family. Most linguists believe that there was an "original" language that almost all Asian languages developed from. But the current geographical placement of speakers makes it very easy to tell how the languages evolved, and which directions they traveled. Speakers of different dialects used to settle in their own villages, and avoid contact with anyone else. But now, it is common for Chinese people to be more nationalized, and further their attempts to communicate with speakers of other dialects.