宁波方言属于古老的吴越语系。它对上海、舟山两地的方言产生了极大的影响,以致三地的语言发音十分相似。由于语言与文化习惯的相近,更由于宁波商人的影响,自古以来在宁波、上海、和舟山形成了一个经济“铁三角”。随着长江三角洲经济区的建立,“铁三角”在长江三角洲经济区内起着举足轻重的的龙头作用。从历史的角度看,是由于语言的缘故使得三地的商业活动紧紧联系在一起,从而奠定了其经济与军事的战略地位。 Ningbo dialect belongs to the ancient Wu Yue family. It has had a huge impact on the dialects of Shanghai and Zhoushan, so that the pronunciation of the three places is very similar. Due to the similarities between language and culture, but also because of the influence of Ningbo businessmen, since ancient times in Ningbo, Shanghai, and Zhoushan formed an economic “iron triangle.” With the establishment of the economic zone in the Yangtze River Delta, the “Iron Triangle” has played a pivotal role in the economic zone of the Yangtze River Delta. From a historical point of view, because of the language, the commercial activities of the three places are closely linked, thus laying a strategic position in economy and military affairs.