More from Shanghai: <\/p>\n
Some Shanghai lawmakers think the Internet is pulling a PK on the Chinese language and fear that Mandarin will no longer shine like an MM. <\/p>\n
Translation: Cyber argot and other languages are polluting standard Chinese, and if a draft law is passed by Shanghai People’s Congress, they will no longer be allowed in schools, official documents and business transactions. <\/p>\n
So, Shanghai residents may soon be saying goodbye to Player Killer, which means competitor in online gaming parlance, and Mei Mei, or pretty girl.<\/p>\n
“The new law aims to further standardize the use of the Chinese language and achieve better communication among people from different parts of the country,” Xia Xiurong, a member of the Standing Committee of Shanghai People’s Congress, said yesterday. <\/p>\n
In her view, new phrases that haven’t been given an official definition by the language authority can lead to ambiguity, causing problems in school and at work. <\/p>\n
The committee, which comprises the city’s top legislators, began discussing the draft law yesterday. It is expected to be adopted in the next two to three months. <\/p>\n
If passed, schools, Chinese publishing houses and government departments will not be allowed to use non-standard phrases or abbreviations. <\/p>\n
In addition, dialects and languages other than Mandarin cannot be used as the sole language employed by any city government department, school, social group or domestic company. <\/p>\n
“Designating a foreign language or dialect as the only language deprives citizens of the right to learn and use the country’s language,” said Zhang Weijiang, director of the Shanghai Education Commission. <\/p>\n
The draft also requires advertising companies to use only standard Chinese in their Mandarin promotions. <\/p>\n
Standard Chinese constitutes the simplified characters that are found in official dictionaries, the draft said. <\/p>\n
Offenders won’t be hauled off to jail, or even fined, however. The measure provides only that the government will seek an immediate correction.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
source: City set to PK those who mess with lingo<\/a>, Shanghai Daily<\/em>, September 24, 2005<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
More from Shanghai: Some Shanghai lawmakers think the Internet is pulling a PK on the Chinese language and fear that Mandarin will no longer shine like an MM. Translation: Cyber argot and other languages are polluting standard Chinese, and if … Continue reading