我国古人十分重视广阔疆土各地方言的统一，于是出现了“雅言”。《辞海》“雅言”条说：“雅言，古时称‘共同语’，同‘方言’对称。”孔颖达在《正文》中说：“雅言，正言也。”阮元在《与郝懿行论（尔雅）书》中解释说：“正者，虞夏商周都之地之正言……正言者，犹今官话 The ancients in our country attached great importance to the unification of dialects throughout the vast territory, so that there appeared “elegant statement.” “Ci Hai”, “Ya-yan,” said: “Ya-yan, ancient saying ’common language’, with ’dialect’ symmetrical.” Kong Yingda in the “body” said: On the (Er Ya) book “explained:” the one who, Yu Xia Shang and Zhou Dynasty are the truth ... ... those who say, still Mandarin