El. knyga: Language Planning in China [De Gruyter E-books]

Aiming to facilitate the understanding of language planning theory and practices in contemporary China by the rest of the world, Yuming presents 30 papers demonstrating a dual emphasis on theory and practice when investigating linguistic issues encountered by twenty-first-century Chinese society. Defining language life as different kinds of social activities that involve language use, language knowledge and language technologies, as well as the learning and study of them, he cites language life as the basis of language planning. Noting the goal of language planning as the achievement of harmony in language life, he argues that it is language life, rather than language, per se, that a government should manage. Thirty chapters cover such subjects as language as a “hard power”; language standardization; bilingual and bi-dialectical competence; Chinese language in the information age; the history of the international dissemination of Chinese; the modernization of lexicography in China; the intension and extension of qieyinzi, inter alia. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

Written by a leading scholar who has been closely involved in language planning in China over many decades, this collection of essays is a critical reflection of the work the Chinese government and academics have undertaken in establishing appropriate policies regarding language standard, language use and language education. The essays contain unique insights into the thinking behind much of the language planning work in China today.