Dong, however, held that the (trend) to simplify the Chinese written language is irreversible and started long before 1949. In the early 20th century, the Chinese had already tried (simplification) to facilitate (international) exchanges. The KMT government, then (ruling) the country, adopted the policy but failed to implement it.
"After 1949, the (mainland) simplified Chinese characters mainly in a bid to improve literacy," Dong said. "Fewer strokes would (facilitate) farmers and workers who did not go to school from a young age."
"It is not (practical) for mainland people to use traditional characters again," he said.
Marvin C. Ho, founder of Taipei Language Institute, told Xinhua, "Today, many people in Taiwan write (simplified) characters as well. Thanks to (frequent) exchanges across the Strait, we are quite familiar with simplified ones."
"It is a natural and right (direction) to simplify the language. In this multi-media age, words have to compete with more user-friendly images. The language used by more than 1.3 billion people can't stay (unchanged) or it will lag behind," said Ho, who was attending the fifth Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum in central Hunan Province (capital) Changsha on the weekend.
During the process of (simplification), people may have different opinions and need to discuss them, he said.
Ho said, "We have to face the (reality) that, after six decades of estrangement, the two sides have a difference in language use." He said that (besides) different characters, there are also differences in vocabulary.
As an example, he said, (pineapple) is called "bo luo" in the mainland but "feng li" in Taiwan.
As a solution, Taiwan's Ma (proposed) to work out a traditional-simplified Chinese dictionary. In fact, a dictionary like this has already been (edited) by the Beijing Language and Culture University and Taipei Language Institute. It was published in the (mainland) in 2003 and in Taiwan in 2006.
In a proposal presented to the forum at its closing (ceremony) on Sunday, participants suggested the two sides should (gradually) reduce the difference in language. They should work together on dictionaries and to (standardize) the use of language, such as terms and translations.
"With encouragement from the (authorities) on both sides, more expertise will be included to make a more complete dictionary, which is a (meaningful) task," said KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung at a press conference after the forum.
Ho had an interesting find when working on the 2006 (dictionary) -- the words that the mainland has and Taiwan does not, or vice (versa), only account for 4 percent of the total words in the dictionary.
"The difference is not as big as people thought," he said. "Language is a (typical) example on how the two sides (share) the same tradition."
The same cultural (origin) was repeatedly addressed at the (forum) by both mainland and Taiwan participants.
"People on both sides have the same ancestors, speak the same language, and follow the same (custom) and philosophy. These are treasures we share," said Prof. Xin-min Chu with the Taipei-based National Chengchi University, also (attending) the forum. "Politics cannot change or damage it."
Question)
1. How much do you know about nowadays Taiwan ?
2. How important is Taiwan to China ?