Language And Character Reform In The Late Qing Dynasty And The Republic Of China Based On Shun Pao

Great changes have taken place in every aspect of China from the second half of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century.During that time,the discussion on the use of language can be said the most detailed one in thousands of years and the debate on the reform of characters can be said the most heated one since Chinese characters came into being.Shun Pao,started publication in 1872 and discontinued in 1949,is the witness and the recorder of this piece of history.The material on the history of the language reform in Shun Paoin the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China,with its diversity,depth,and correlation,can present the close integration of language and character reform with social conditions and historical background.Hence,it is a significant material used to promote further understanding of the relationship between language and national construction,as well as between Chinese character and the consciousness of the Chinese nation community.Therefore,based on the historical records of the language and character reform in Shun Paoin the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China,this thesis investigates the language and character reform during that period from three perspectives,including the Chinese Alphabetization movement,the Chinese character reform movement,and the construction of standard Chinese to provide the academic reference for future studies of language and character.The current research studies the Chinese Alphabetization from the four aspects including the Chinese Alphabet Movement,the Chinese Romanization,the Chinese Latinization,and the Esperanto Movement.Firstly,the Chinese Alphabet Movement arouses people’s thinking and attention to national education,initiates the Chinese character reform,and inspires the formulation of the phonetic alphabet.Besides,the Chinese Romanization,used for reference of the late Chinese phonetic system,further promotes the Chinese Alphabetization.In addition,the Chinese Latinization and the Esperanto Movement are important parts of the left-wing cultural movement,and play a role in stimulating international awareness,arousing public awareness,and promoting left-wing theories.In the end,the Chinese Alphabetization Movement is boosted by the instrumental and political attribute of characters,and its failure is due to the neglect of the cultural attribute of Chinese characters.In addition,the current research also investigates the reform of Chinese characters,mainly focusing on the reflection on the value of Chinese characters when it is in crisis,the different schemes of simplification of Chinese characters,and the different paths and positions reflected behind them.It can be seen that the main impetus for the simplification of Chinese characters is not only the instrumental attribute of Chinese characters,but also the prospect of the Chinese Alphabetization,as well as the left-leaning political stance which is breaking the monopoly of characters and building popular culture.At the same time,the role of Chinese characters and its cultural attribute in cultural identity and national identitybecome more distinct in this crisis,which reminds us that the cultural attribute of Chinese characters has a restrictive effect in the balance of the three attributes.Besides,the construction of national language is also researched in this thesis from aspects of phonetics,grammar and dialects,with three topics revolved(1)the advancement and compromise of phonetic symbols in the unification of national pronunciation,(2)how does the debate between popular language and vernacular shape written Mandarin,and(3)the relationship between dialects and lingua franca.Under the circumstances of backward economic development and high illiteracy rate,the unification of national pronunciation has not been implemented,and it is an arduous and long-term work to eliminate dialect differences to achieve national language unification.However,the construction of the national language further elucidated the public position and mass line in the language movement,which provides fresh vitality for the full integration of the content and form of the national language and avoids retro rigidity or complete Westernization.In general,the language and character reform of the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China is successful in theoretical route and reform exploration.First,as for theoretical success,a series of standards,the phonetic alphabet and the Roman character of the national language are formulated and the national pronunciation standard is unified;In addition,Chinese phonetic system,Chinese simplification system and its basic theory are proposed.Although there is lack of implementation,the theories,principles,and plans are mature and have been fully used for reference in the language reform after the founding of New China.Second,as for reform exploration success,national language is integrated planned and the relationship among the lingua franca,dialects and minority languages is clarified;Besides,the form of the written language of the national language is determined and standards for the modern national language with the integration of content and form are set.This reform,adhering to the public position,avoids the retro rigidity or complete Westernization.In conclusion,domestic turmoil and foreign aggression in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China aroused attention to language and characters,as well as the relationship between language and national identity and cultural identity.Afterwards,bottom-up reform and top-down program started.In this reform,we can clearly see the primary role of academic preparation,the security role of educational advancement,the supporting role of public opinion leading and the decisive role of administrative power.It is obvious that cultural attribute,instrumental attribute,and political attribute of language and characters play different roles under different historical conditions.All the attempts,successful or failed,remind us to analyze reasons.Hence,future language and characters projects should focus on solving major problems and maintaining the overall balance.The policies and implementation of language work should insist on improving education quality,strengthen academic research,and take the firm stand of mass line with a more prudent attitude.In short,the rich experience of exploration during that period provides an important reference for today’s language work theoretically and practically.