The Chinese Society Observed through Abbreviations with Numerals - from BANYUETAN in 1999 -

Abbreviations involving numerals occupy only 10 to 20% of all abbreviated words. This is why no preceding studies focused on abbreviations with numerals have been made. A series of studies by Oka, Oka [1998a, 1998b, 1999a, 1999b, 1999c, 1999d], already revealed their features. In this study, I will clarify, through abbreviations with numerals, the phase of Chinese society in 1999. When President Lee Teng-hui expressed his opinion on China in his book published in May, 1999 that China should be divided into seven states, Beijing got angry and started to attack his "qi kuai lun" or "sevenstate theory". In July President Lee also made public his provocative theory that the relationships between Taiwan and Mainland are "state-to-state". This again invited rage among the leaders of China, because they believe that. Taiwan is indivisible part of China's territory. Beijing severely criticizes Lee's idea as "liang guo lun" or a "two-state theory". A newly created abbreviation, "san bian" (three at the same time) for example, shows us that corner-cutting and sloppy construction is prevailing all over the country. An increasing number of lay-off workers from state enterprises became a great social problem, and many retraining service centers have been opened, and they offer "yi san yi" (one-three-one) services to help jobless people get employed with new skills.

研究ノート (Note)