Codes of Modernity: Chinese Scripts in the Global Information Age

Chinese reformers and revolutionaries argued that the Chinese writing system was too cumbersome to learn, blocking communication, mass literacy, and scientific progress. Codes of Modernity explores the global history of Chinese script reforms from the 1890s to the 1980s, arguing that these reforms were at the forefront of an emergent information age. It examines dozens of proposed scripts, including phonetic alphabets, syllabaries, character simplification schemes, Latinization, and pinyin, and considers their transnational framework.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 28 November 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

In the late 19th century, a profound shift in perspective emerged among Chinese reformers and revolutionaries, who perceived a fundamental flaw within the Chinese writing system. They argued that the Chinese characters, once revered as the cornerstone of civilization for over two millennia, had become cumbersome and impeding communication, mass literacy, and scientific progress. What had once been seen as a symbol of cultural resilience was now perceived as the root cause of an ongoing cultural crisis. Recognizing the urgent need for change, Chinese leaders sought a new script that would enable their country to thrive in the modern world.

Codes of Modernity delves into the global history of Chinese script reforms, spanning from the 1890s to the 1980s. By examining the material conditions and political economy underpinning these efforts, Uluğ Kuzuoğlu makes a compelling case that these reforms were at the forefront of an emerging information age. Faced with the advent of new communications technologies and infrastructures, as well as the demands of industrial, educational, and bureaucratic organizations for efficient information management, reformers saw scripts as powerful tools to enhance labor efficiency and shape alternative political futures.

Kuzuoğlu explores a wide range of proposed scripts, including phonetic alphabets, syllabaries, character simplification schemes, Latinization, and pinyin. By situating these proposals within a transnational framework, he expands the geographical boundaries of Chinese script reforms to include American behavioral psychologists, Soviet revolutionaries, and Central Asian typographers, all of whom were engaged in their own endeavors to create new scripts driven by the quest for informational efficiency.

Through the lens of Codes of Modernity, we gain a fresh perspective on scripts and their role in shaping our shared experiences in the global information age. The book offers a rich tapestry of historical and cultural insights, shedding light on the complex interplay between technology, politics, and culture in the pursuit of script reform. By exploring the successes and failures of these experiments, Kuzuoğlu provides valuable lessons for contemporary societies navigating the challenges of modernity and the rapidly evolving information landscape.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231209380