Revision of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language from the Perspective of National Identity

Ye Qiang

Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2025, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (1) : 44-53.

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Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2025, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (1) : 44-53. DOI: 10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20250104

Revision of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language from the Perspective of National Identity

  • Ye Qiang
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Abstract

Previous researches on the revision of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language have shifted the focus from the standardization of the national common language and script to the protection of language rights, and then to the role of the national common language and script in national identification, thus forming a consensus towards strengthening the sense of community of the Chinese nation. From the perspective of national identity, the revision of the law should start with handling the relationship between the national common language and script and ethnic minority languages and scripts, and focus on addressing the following issues: what legal status should the national common language and script have? How should ethnic minority languages and scripts be learned and used? Is there a mandatory requirement for certain special groups in terms of their proficiency in the national common language and script? As the main battlefield of national common language and script education, what should schools do? With reference to the national policies and local regulations and rules in recent years, it is recommended to confirm the dominant position of the national common language and script, clarify the specific circumstances for the use of ethnic minority languages and scripts, establish language proficiency requirements for personnel in state organs, educational institutions, and other public service industry, provide ethnic minority schools with teaching materials, faculty, and equipment for teaching the national common language and script, and truly make this law the foundation for the protection and inheritance of the national common language and script.

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national identity / forging a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation / national common language and script / ethnic minority languages and scripts

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Ye Qiang. Revision of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language from the Perspective of National Identity[J]. Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning. 2025, 10(1): 44-53 https://doi.org/10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20250104

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