A Chinese dictionary long overdue

Fan Liqing (范麗青), spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said such a dictionary would facilitate the increasing exchange between the two sides which have developed many different vocabularies over the years.

“Differences have emerged in terminology in areas of science and technology as well as in social sector,” she pointed out. “For instance, 'laser' is called 'jiguang' (激光) in China, but is named 'lei-she' (鐳射) in Taiwan. 'Channel' is 'qudao' (渠道) in China, but 'guan-dao' (管道) in Taiwan.” “As cross-strait exchange is fast increasing, we are in favor of compiling a comprehensive Chinese dictionary by recruiting scholars and lexicographers of both sides to list and compare the existing differences in vocabulary. This would facilitate the increasing exchange and make it easy for people to learn and use the language.”

It is encouraging to hear of Fan's statement, which could be a harbinger of closer cross-strait cooperation in the cultural field. A comprehensive dictionary of Chinese language and culture is long overdue. Six decades of separation since 1949 have resulted in a lot of cultural and linguistic differences.

It is no longer true to say that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait speak the same language. They don't, as pointed out by Fan, one of the very first mainland journalists to set foot in Taiwan. There are different expressions that need to be redefined. Besides, both sides have their own ways of transliteration, creating confusion and bewilderment.

Could the cultural gap be bridged? Yes, if people on both sides stop seeing the issue through political lens. But it is a big IF.

Next month, a cross-strait forum on trade and culture will take place in Changsha, capital of Hunan province. This time, the forum will focus on culture and education. The idea of compiling a Chinese dictionary by tapping the top talent on both sides is certain to draw attention. If concrete steps can be mapped out at the forum, which is a platform for cross-strait communication sponsored by the ruling parties of both sides, the proposed dictionary could get a boost. The timing is good, as such a dictionary is badly needed by an increasing number of people who need a key to understand the cryptic Chinese language. Cross-strait cooperation in lexicography is less a political issue than the controversy over jiantizi (simplified characters, 簡體字) and fantizi ( traditional characters, 繁體字) which will also be raised at the forum.

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