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The News site for Linguists |
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24-03-2006
UN to use only simplified Chinese after 2008
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 Shanghai, China (Shanghai Daily) The United Nations will only use simplified Chinese characters after 2008, the Beijing Morning Post said today, citing linguists. The UN is currently using both versions of Chinese characters -- simplified characters and the original complex form. But the UN has decided to rule out the complex form after 2008, said Chen Zhangtai, chief of the Chinese academy of practical linguistics.
[Editor's Note: Chinese is written in two forms, traditional and simplified, the latter being developed and adopted during Mao Tse Tung's reign to improve literacy. If applied, this decision will gradually force countries like Taiwan and Singapore to adopt the simplified (mainland) Chinese form.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the decision taken by the State Council, or the central government, to simplify Chinese characters and popularize Mandarin Chinese.]
For more information, please visit:
www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/03/23/253619/UN_to_use_only_simplified_Chinese_after_2008.htm
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