Kingdom of Characters: The Language Revolution That Made China Modern by Jing Tsu

 



Here is a chapter-wise summary of Kingdom of Characters: The Language Revolution That Made China Modern by Jing Tsu:

Chapter 1: The Kingdom of Characters

This chapter introduces the Chinese writing system and its history. Tsu argues that the Chinese writing system is a complex and sophisticated system that has been used for over 3,000 years. She also discusses the challenges that the Chinese writing system poses to modernization.

Chapter 2: The Language Reform Movement

This chapter tells the story of the language reform movement in China. The movement began in the late 19th century and was led by a group of scholars and writers who were concerned about the challenges that the Chinese writing system posed to modernization. The movement sought to simplify the Chinese writing system and make it more accessible to the masses.

Chapter 3: The Rise of Mandarin

This chapter discusses the rise of Mandarin as the national language of China. Mandarin was originally spoken by a minority of the Chinese population, but it was promoted by the government as the language of education and government. The rise of Mandarin had a profound impact on the Chinese language and culture.

Chapter 4: The Pinyin System

This chapter tells the story of the development of the Pinyin system, a phonetic writing system for Chinese. Pinyin was developed in the early 20th century and was adopted by the Chinese government in the 1950s. Pinyin has made it easier for Chinese speakers to learn to read and write, and it has also made it easier for foreigners to learn Chinese.

Chapter 5: The Computerization of Chinese

This chapter discusses the challenges of computerizing the Chinese language. The Chinese writing system is very complex, and it is difficult to represent Chinese characters in a computer-readable format. However, a number of solutions have been developed, and Chinese characters can now be easily entered and displayed on computers.

Chapter 6: The Future of Chinese

This chapter discusses the future of the Chinese language. Tsu argues that the Chinese language is well-positioned for the 21st century. The Chinese writing system has been modernized, and Chinese is now a global language. Tsu believes that the Chinese language will continue to play an important role in the world.

I hope this summary is helpful. If you have any other questions, please let me know.

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