In 1973, a ‘trial edition’ of the Xiandai hanyu cidian 现代汉语词典, one of the most authoritative dictionaries of modern standard Chinese, was printed in the People’s Republic of China. In 1974, this edition was harshly criticised by some of the most extremist political figures of the time because of its alleged reactionary contents. Drawing from Chinese texts published in the 1970s, this paper intends to present the debate surrounding the ‘trial edition’ of the dictionary. The purpose of the paper is thus to show how the interrelation between China’s political and cultural fields influenced lexicographical activities, and how the criticisms directed at the dictionary and the lexicographers reflected the political struggles within the political leadership of the time.
Nel 1973 venne stampata, nella Repubblica popolare cinese, una ‘edizione di prova’ dello Xiandai hanyu cidian 现代汉语词典, uno dei più autorevoli dizionari di lingua cinese moderna e standard. Nel 1974, tale edizione divenne oggetto di una campagna di critica, perpetrata da alcune delle personalità politiche più estremiste dell’epoca, a causa dei suoi contenuti considerati reazionari. Prendendo le mosse da fonti cinesi pubblicate all’epoca, il contributo intende presentare tale dibattito, mirando quindi a proporre una riflessione su come l’indissolubile legame tra vita politica e vita culturale che caratterizzava la Cina degli anni Settanta del XX secolo influenzò fortemente anche le attività lessicografiche, investite da discussioni che riflettevano le lotte politiche in seno al Partito comunista cinese.
‘Un minestrone di feudalesimo, capitalismo e revisionismo’ : lo Xiandai hanyu cidian 现代汉语词典 tra rivoluzione, sovversione e reazione
CHIARA BERTULESSI
2020-01-01
Abstract
In 1973, a ‘trial edition’ of the Xiandai hanyu cidian 现代汉语词典, one of the most authoritative dictionaries of modern standard Chinese, was printed in the People’s Republic of China. In 1974, this edition was harshly criticised by some of the most extremist political figures of the time because of its alleged reactionary contents. Drawing from Chinese texts published in the 1970s, this paper intends to present the debate surrounding the ‘trial edition’ of the dictionary. The purpose of the paper is thus to show how the interrelation between China’s political and cultural fields influenced lexicographical activities, and how the criticisms directed at the dictionary and the lexicographers reflected the political struggles within the political leadership of the time.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.