|
¡@
Character flaws
The Ministry of Education recently suggested that the name Taiwan should be
written exclusively in traditional Chinese characters (»OÆW) instead of the
simplified form (¥xÆW). This suggestion has been criticized as ¡§too much leisure
after a meal¡¨ to use a Taiwanese metaphor. It is as meaningless as suggesting
that we write ¡§the United States of America¡¨ instead of ¡§the USA¡¨ or ¡§the US.¡¨
The simplified form for Taiwan has been used for decades or even centuries ¡X
well before China adopted simplified Chinese characters, if that is what
concerns the ministry.
It would be more meaningful if the ministry came out and suggested not writing
or calling Taiwan ¡§Chinese Taipei¡¨ or ¡§Taiwan, China.¡¨ In fact, Taiwan is not
the Republic of China or the ROC, otherwise the term ¡§the ROC on Taiwan¡¨ would
be nonsensical. Taiwan has a much longer history than the ROC.
There are many other meaningful things on which the ministry could focus, such
as educating students more about the true history and geography of Taiwan;
treating Taiwanese graduate students as the equals of Chinese graduate students
in granting scholarships; allowing college students the freedom of expression in
their Internet communications; not changing transliterated signs from Tongyong
pinyin, developed by the ministry itself, to Hanyu pinyin; and never adopting
simplified Chinese characters.
CHARLES HONG
Columbus, Ohio
¡@
|
