근대 중국의 언어개혁운동과 내셔널리즘

Language Reform Movement in Modern China and Nationalism

This paper tries to explore the process and characteristics of language reform movement in Modern China from the perspective of Nationalism. Language reform movement in Modern China includes several different aspects. One is claim to abolish Chinese characters and adopt new writing system. While there was wide agreement on the need to adopt an alphabetic writing system, the practical implementation of such a scheme was another matter. The idea was simply too radical from the point of national language policy. The other is spread of modern translated loans and renovation of Chinese lexicon. These translated loans after Late Ming dynasty are the essential elements of contemporary Chinese lexicon. It also has changed Chinese lexical structure and made a great contribution to the multi- dimensions of modern Chinese lexicon. The third is formation and deconstruction of East Asian common literary language. Common literary language in East Asia was for many centuries not only a tool of cultural communication but also a means of thought in the whole East Asia. Deconstruction of East Asian common literary language opened the era of unification of the written and spoken language. Last is diffusion of Putonghua(the commom language) and formation of polyglossia in New China. Ultimately, the problem of language reform is the problem of politics. Language reform movement in Modern China is an axis of grand project to convert universal empire, that is traditional China, into modernized nation through internalization of nationalism.