Here's why that matters:
* Sinitic refers to the family of languages that originated in China. This family includes many dialects, with Mandarin being the most widely spoken.
* While sometimes called "Chinese" in English, the term "Sinitic" is more accurate when referring to the language family. This is because "Chinese" can also refer to the broader concept of Chinese culture and people, which includes speakers of other Sinitic languages like Cantonese, Min, and Wu.
So, while Mandarin is often referred to as "Chinese," it's technically a Sinitic language, specifically the most widely spoken dialect of the Sinitic family.