The present status of digraphia in China

Abstract

DeFrancis (1984a: 62 - 63) has previously described the graphic situation in China as one of ``emerging or projected digraphia'' between Chinese characters and the Hanyu Pinyin Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, both ocially recognized by the government of the Peoples Republic of China. This paper will assess the present graphic situation in China in terms of government policy toward the Hanyu Pinyin alphabet, the expanding educational use of Hanyu Pinyin, and the growing importance of Hanyu Pinyin for computerization of the Chinese language.