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Total Categories: 5
Written vernacular Chinese, or *baihua*, is a form of written Chinese that closely mirrors everyday spoken language, contrasting with Literary Chinese which emulated ancient classics.
Answer: True
The source defines Written vernacular Chinese (*baihua*) as a written form based on spoken varieties, directly contrasting with Literary Chinese, which emulated ancient classics.
The literal meaning of *baihuawen* is 'ancient script writing', reflecting its connection to classical texts.
Answer: False
The literal meaning of *baihuawen* is 'plain speech writing', not 'ancient script writing'. This term emphasizes its connection to everyday spoken language, not classical texts.
By the Tang and Song dynasties, spoken Chinese had become completely distinct from formal Literary Chinese, leading to early vernacular writings like *bianwen* and *yulu*.
Answer: True
The source confirms that by the Tang and Song dynasties, spoken language diverged entirely from formal Literary Chinese, giving rise to vernacular forms such as *bianwen* and *yulu*.
Which of the following best describes Written vernacular Chinese (*baihua*)?
Answer: A written form based on spoken varieties of the language, making it more accessible.
Written vernacular Chinese (*baihua*) is defined as a written form based on the spoken varieties of the language, making it more accessible and contrasting with classical texts.
What is the literal meaning of the Chinese term *baihuawen*?
Answer: Plain speech writing
The literal meaning of *baihuawen* is 'plain speech writing', reflecting its nature as a written form that closely mirrors everyday spoken language.
By which historical period had the spoken language become completely distinct from formal Literary Chinese, leading to early vernacular writings like *bianwen*?
Answer: Tang and Song dynasties
By the Tang and Song dynasties, the spoken language had become completely distinct from formal Literary Chinese, leading to the emergence of early vernacular writings like *bianwen* and *yulu*.
No questions are available for this topic.
The New Culture Movement, beginning around 1916, was associated with the first language reformers of the 20th century, promoting anti-imperialist and anti-traditionalist sentiments.
Answer: True
The source confirms that the New Culture Movement, starting around 1916, was indeed associated with the first language reformers of the 20th century and promoted anti-imperialist and anti-traditionalist ideals.
Mao Zedong and more radical activists initially advocated for replacing Chinese characters with a phonetic writing system to boost literacy.
Answer: True
The source states that Mao Zedong and radical activists initially argued for replacing Chinese characters with a phonetic writing system, believing it would facilitate the transition to vernacular language and increase literacy.
The Chinese Communist Party's official goal for character reform eventually shifted to simplifying characters, with a possible future transition to a romanized system that was indefinitely postponed.
Answer: True
The source confirms that the CCP's official goal for character reform evolved to prioritize simplifying characters, with the potential transition to a romanized phonetic system being indefinitely postponed.
The May Fourth Movement in 1919 significantly decreased the importance of vernacular Chinese writing, favoring a return to classical forms.
Answer: False
The May Fourth Movement in 1919, coupled with public intellectual promotion, significantly *increased* the importance of vernacular Chinese writing, advocating for its widespread adoption over classical forms.
Lu Xun's *The True Story of Ah Q* is generally accepted as the first modern work to fully utilize vernacular language.
Answer: True
The source confirms that Lu Xun's *The True Story of Ah Q* is generally accepted as the first modern work to fully utilize vernacular language.
During its early popularization, *baihua* literature was considered ideologically conservative, aiming to preserve traditional values.
Answer: False
During its early popularization, *baihua* literature was considered ideologically *progressive*, viewed as a tool for social advancement and modernization, not for preserving traditional values.
Following the 1911 Revolution, the new national education system implemented curricula taught exclusively in Literary Chinese to maintain cultural heritage.
Answer: False
Following the 1911 Revolution, the new national education system implemented curricula taught in *vernacular Chinese*, not exclusively Literary Chinese, to promote widespread adoption and modernization.
The May Fourth Movement was a critical period that solidified anti-imperialist and anti-traditionalist sentiments, inspiring a movement to democratize language.
Answer: True
The source confirms that the May Fourth Movement was a critical period that solidified anti-imperialist and anti-traditionalist sentiments, inspiring a movement to democratize language and establish *baihuawen*.
Which movement, beginning around 1916, was associated with the first language reformers of the 20th century and promoted anti-imperialist sentiments?
Answer: The New Culture Movement
The New Culture Movement, which began around 1916, was associated with the first language reformers of the 20th century and promoted anti-imperialist and anti-traditionalist sentiments.
What was the initial stance of Mao Zedong and radical activists regarding Chinese characters?
Answer: They advocated for replacing characters with a phonetic writing system.
Mao Zedong and radical activists initially advocated for replacing Chinese characters with a phonetic writing system to boost literacy and facilitate the transition to vernacular language.
What event, coupled with the promotion by public intellectuals, greatly increased the widespread importance of vernacular Chinese writing in 1919?
Answer: The May Fourth Movement
The May Fourth Movement in 1919, combined with the promotion by public intellectuals, significantly increased the widespread importance of vernacular Chinese writing.
Which work is generally accepted as the first modern work to fully utilize vernacular language?
Answer: Lu Xun's *The True Story of Ah Q*
Lu Xun's *The True Story of Ah Q* is generally accepted as the first modern work to fully utilize vernacular language.
What ideological characteristic was attributed to *baihua* literature during its early popularization?
Answer: Ideologically progressive
During its early popularization, *baihua* literature was considered ideologically progressive, viewed as a tool for social advancement and modernization.
How did the 1911 Revolution impact the education system and the use of vernacular Chinese?
Answer: Successive governments implemented a national education system with curricula taught in vernacular Chinese.
Following the 1911 Revolution, successive governments implemented a national education system where curricula were taught in vernacular Chinese, promoting its widespread adoption.
What was the significance of the May Fourth Movement in the context of Chinese language reform?
Answer: It solidified anti-imperialist sentiments and promoted the democratization of language.
The May Fourth Movement was significant for solidifying anti-imperialist and anti-traditionalist sentiments, inspiring a movement to democratize language and establish *baihuawen* as the normal written form.
What was one of the goals of political activists in the 20th century regarding language reform?
Answer: To replace characters with a phonetic writing system and expand vernacular lexicon.
One of the goals of 20th-century political activists was to replace characters with a phonetic writing system and expand the vernacular lexicon to make literature more accessible and increase literacy.
The standard form of Written vernacular Chinese was initially based on the Beijing dialect, which later displaced Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
Answer: False
The source indicates that Lower Yangtze Mandarin initially served as the standard for written vernacular Chinese, but it was later displaced by the Beijing dialect, which then became the basis for the standardized form.
The phonology of modern Standard Chinese is based on exemplary works of vernacular literature, while its grammar is based on the Beijing dialect.
Answer: False
The source clarifies that the phonology of modern Standard Chinese is based on the Beijing dialect of Mandarin, while its grammar is officially based on exemplary works of vernacular literature.
Since the late 1920s, nearly all Chinese newspapers, books, and official documents have been written in vernacular Standard Chinese.
Answer: True
The source confirms that since the late 1920s, vernacular Standard Chinese has been predominantly used for Chinese newspapers, books, and official and legal documents.
Only well-educated individuals in modern times possess full reading comprehension of Literary texts, and very few can write proficiently in Literary Chinese.
Answer: True
The source indicates that in modern times, full reading comprehension of Literary texts is limited to well-educated individuals, and proficiency in writing Literary Chinese is rare.
An admixture of Literary grammatical constructions and vocabulary in formal *baihuawen* was intentionally avoided by reformers to ensure complete separation from classical influences.
Answer: False
The source states that incorporating a certain proportion of Literary grammatical constructions and vocabulary into formal *baihuawen* was found to be unavoidable, serving to convey tone and register, rather than being intentionally avoided for complete separation.
*Chengyu* are modern slang terms that have replaced classical idioms in contemporary Chinese language.
Answer: False
The source defines *chengyu* as classical idioms that are still widely used in modern Chinese, not as modern slang terms that have replaced them.
*Hanyu Pinyin* is the primary written form of standard Written vernacular Chinese, replacing traditional characters.
Answer: False
*Hanyu Pinyin* is a romanization system for Standard Mandarin, used for phonetic transcription, learning, and input methods, but it is not the primary written form of standard Written vernacular Chinese, which is primarily written in characters.
Which spoken dialect primarily influenced the standard form of Written vernacular Chinese after displacing an earlier standard?
Answer: Beijing dialect
The standard form of Written vernacular Chinese was later refined based on the Beijing dialect, which displaced Lower Yangtze Mandarin as the primary influence.
What is the basis for the phonology of modern Standard Chinese?
Answer: The Beijing dialect of Mandarin
The phonology of modern Standard Chinese is based on the Beijing dialect of Mandarin.
What is the current status of Literary Chinese comprehension and writing ability among modern individuals?
Answer: Only well-educated individuals possess full reading comprehension, and very few can write proficiently.
The source indicates that in modern times, only well-educated individuals possess full reading comprehension of Literary texts, and very few can write proficiently in Literary Chinese.
Why is an admixture of Literary grammatical constructions and vocabulary considered unavoidable in formal *baihuawen*?
Answer: It serves as an important means of conveying tone and register in official settings.
An admixture of Literary grammatical constructions and vocabulary in formal *baihuawen* is considered unavoidable because it serves as an important means of conveying tone and register, particularly in official settings.
What are *chengyu* in modern Chinese usage?
Answer: Classical idioms used by speakers of all education levels.
*Chengyu* are classical idioms that are used by writers and speakers of all education levels in modern Chinese, representing a persistent classical influence.
What is the primary function of *Hanyu Pinyin* in relation to Written vernacular Chinese?
Answer: It is a romanization system for Standard Mandarin, used for learning and input methods.
*Hanyu Pinyin* is a romanization system for Standard Mandarin, primarily used for phonetic transcription, learning, and input methods, not as the main written script.
What was the initial standard for written vernacular Chinese before the Beijing dialect became dominant?
Answer: Lower Yangtze Mandarin
Initially, Lower Yangtze Mandarin served as the standard for written vernacular Chinese before it was displaced by the Beijing dialect.
Which of the following was NOT a factor contributing to the rapid establishment of the vernacular written language?
Answer: Resistance from political activists
The rapid establishment of the vernacular written language was a result of systematic education, contributions of talented authors, and an active scholastic community. Resistance from political activists would have hindered, not contributed to, its establishment.
What is the approximate ratio of formal to informal expressions found in typical 20th-century essays and speeches?
Answer: 2:3 (40% formal)
Analyses of typical 20th-century essays and speeches indicate an approximate ratio of formal to informal expressions of 2:3, or 40% formal.
In mainland China, written vernacular Chinese uses simplified characters and a lexicon and grammar regulated by the State Language Commission.
Answer: True
The source confirms that in mainland China, written vernacular Chinese uses simplified characters and its lexicon and grammar are regulated by the State Language Commission, associated with Putonghua.
Taiwanese Mandarin is written using simplified characters and is regulated by the Promote Mandarin Council.
Answer: False
Taiwanese Mandarin is written using *traditional characters* and is regulated by the *National Languages Committee*, not simplified characters or the Promote Mandarin Council.
Hong Kong written Chinese is standardized and uses simplified characters, associated with a phonology derived from Mandarin.
Answer: False
Hong Kong written Chinese is *not standardized*, uses *traditional characters*, and is associated with a phonology derived from *Cantonese*, not Mandarin.
Singaporean Mandarin and Malaysian Mandarin are both written using simplified characters and have their respective regulating bodies.
Answer: True
The source confirms that Singaporean Mandarin and Malaysian Mandarin are both written using simplified characters and are regulated by their respective councils.
Written forms of other Chinese varieties like Cantonese and Shanghainese are primarily used in formal government documents and academic papers.
Answer: False
Written forms of other Chinese varieties like Cantonese and Shanghainese are most commonly used in advertisements and court records of dialogue, often mixed with Standard vocabulary, not primarily in formal government documents or academic papers.
The State Language Commission in mainland China regulates the lexicon and grammar of Putonghua and oversees the use of simplified characters for written vernacular Chinese.
Answer: True
The source confirms that the State Language Commission in mainland China is responsible for regulating the lexicon and grammar associated with Putonghua and overseeing the use of simplified characters for written vernacular Chinese.
What are the characteristics of written vernacular Chinese in mainland China?
Answer: Uses simplified characters and a lexicon/grammar associated with Putonghua, regulated by the State Language Commission.
In mainland China, written vernacular Chinese uses simplified characters and a lexicon and grammar associated with Putonghua, regulated by the State Language Commission.
How does Taiwanese Mandarin differ in its written form from Putonghua?
Answer: It is written using traditional characters and is regulated by the National Languages Committee.
Taiwanese Mandarin is written using traditional characters and is regulated by the National Languages Committee, and it has important vocabulary differences from Putonghua.
In what contexts are written forms of other Chinese varieties like Cantonese and Shanghainese most commonly used?
Answer: In advertisements and court records of dialogue, often mixed with Standard vocabulary.
Written forms of other Chinese varieties like Cantonese and Shanghainese are most commonly used in advertisements and court records of dialogue and colloquial expressions, often mixed with Standard vocabulary.
Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of Hong Kong written Chinese?
Answer: It uses traditional characters, is not standardized, and is associated with Cantonese phonology.
Hong Kong written Chinese uses traditional characters, is not standardized, and is associated with Cantonese phonology, differing in vocabulary and grammar from other forms.
What role did the State Language Commission play in mainland China's written vernacular?
Answer: It regulated the lexicon and grammar of Putonghua and oversaw simplified characters.
The State Language Commission in mainland China regulates the lexicon and grammar associated with Putonghua and oversees the use of simplified characters for written vernacular Chinese.