History Unplugged Podcast
Scott RankHow China Changed Its Language From Archaic Confucian Bureaucracy to the Lingua Franca of Globalization
March 21, 2022 ● 33 minShare this episode
After a meteoric rise, China today is one of the world’s most powerful nations. Just a century ago, it was a crumbling empire with literacy reserved for the elite few, as the world underwent a massive technological transformation that threatened to leave them behind.
Today’s guest is Prof. Jing Tsu, author of “Kingdom of Characters: The Language Revolution that Made China Modern.” She argues that China’s most daunting challenge was a linguistic one: the century-long fight to make the Chinese language—with its many dialects and complex character-based script—accessible to the modern world of global trade and digital technology.
We discuss the connection between language and power, challenges China faced to ensure their language remained dominant/widespread, the innovators who adapted the Chinese language to a world defined by the West and its alphabet, AND it was so important for China to preserve its ancient character set, even though it was seen as such a hindrance to their technological development.
Today’s guest is Prof. Jing Tsu, author of “Kingdom of Characters: The Language Revolution that Made China Modern.” She argues that China’s most daunting challenge was a linguistic one: the century-long fight to make the Chinese language—with its many dialects and complex character-based script—accessible to the modern world of global trade and digital technology.
We discuss the connection between language and power, challenges China faced to ensure their language remained dominant/widespread, the innovators who adapted the Chinese language to a world defined by the West and its alphabet, AND it was so important for China to preserve its ancient character set, even though it was seen as such a hindrance to their technological development.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Navigating Financial Struggles with Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 22
My prayer today is that you will trust God even in the midst of financial strain. May we be reminded that God can provide all that we need and that we can trust Him, even in our finances.
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin’s Powerful Live Performance of 'How Great Is Our God'
Danny Gokey Danny Gokey 'Sound Of Heaven' Official Music Video