基于Cooper“八问方案”的《汉字简化方案》分析

Analyzing Chinese Character Simplification Scheme under the Framework of Cooper’s Accounting Scheme

建国初期中央明确了当前文字改革的三大任务,其中简化汉字居于首位。制定与实施《汉字简化方案》是世界语言规划史上的一次重要实践,受到国内外众多研究的关注。本文利用Cooper“八问方案”对《汉字简化方案》制定的历程进行分析评价,并指出《汉字简化方案》:1) 对于提高人民群众的文化水平发挥了重大作用;2) 体现了语言由繁趋简的客观规律,语言规划应该顺势而为;3) 受国家意志支持,反映了新政权与工农群众紧密相连,具有极大的政治象征意义。

In the early days after the founding of the PRC, the central government specified three major tasks for the current script reform, among which simplification of Chinese characters was the priority. The formulation and implementation of the Chinese Character Simplification Scheme is an important practice in the history of language planning worldwide and has received much attention both at home and abroad. This paper uses Cooper’s accounting scheme to analyze and evaluate the development of the Chinese Character Simplification Scheme, pointing out that the Chinese Character Simplification Scheme: 1) has played a significant role in improving people’s literacy;2) reflects the objective law that language has undergone constant simplification, and language planning should follow this trend;and 3) is supported by the will of the state, reflecting that the new regime was closely linked to the workers and peasants, and the Chinese Character Simplification Scheme had great political symbolic significance.