The Dilemma and Future of the Putonghua and Simplified Chinese Characters in Hong Kong and Taiwan

Due to their unique historic and geographical backgrounds, Hong Kong and Taiwan are two isolated islands in the history of numerous language reforms, which included movements of national language, vernacular writing, romanization and simplification of Chinese characters. These movements had profound impact on the lives of Chinese people in the mainland, but the impact barely reached Hong Kong and was largely dampened in Taiwan. What is the future, and dilemma, for the people of these two islands in dealing with the spread of Putonghua and simplified Chinese characters?

Keywords

Taiwan Hong Kong Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese) simplified Chinese

source

International Journal of Chinese Language Education; June 2018; Issue No. 3; p.41 - 59

Publisher

Department of Chinese Language Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong
Chinese Language Program, Columbia University
Chung Hwa Book Co. (H.K.) Ltd.

Language

Chinese

ISSN

2520-7733 (Print); 2521-4241 (Online)