Review of A Dictionary of Global Huayu - Rui Li

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Terk

Reviewing A Dictionary of Global Huayu (Chinese Language), the paper examines how the 商务印书馆版 dictionary achieved pioneering work as the first Huayu dictionary, expanding Chinese language influence and offering Chinese speakers abroad a reference for study and communication. It also critiques weaknesses: the entry set is limited and insufficiently balanced, definitions lack accuracy, Chinese contextualization is not adequately reflected, and spoken forms receive less attention than written forms.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

1. Introduction

2. Outside matter

3. Word collection

4. Article

Advances in Language and Literary Studies ISSN: 2203-4714 Vol. 7 No. 3; June 2016 Australian International Academic Centre, Australia | | | | | --- | --- | --- | | | Flourishing Creativity & Literacy | | | | | | Review of A Dictionary of Global Huayu1 Rui Li College of Chinese Language and Culture, Jinan University, China E-mail: [ruirui-880721@163.com](ruirui-880721@163.com) Doi:10 .7575/aiac.alls.v.7n.3p.282 URL: [http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.7n.3p.282](http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.7n.3p.282) Received: 03/02/2016 Accepted: 15/04/2016 This paper has been sponsored by Jinan University. Abstract Abstract: As the first Huayu dictionary published by the Commercial Press, A Dictionary of Global Huayu (Chinese Language) did a pioneer work in many aspects. It did expand the influence of Chinese and provided Chinese speaker abroad a valuable reference book for study and communication. Nevertheless, there are still some demerits. First of all, the amount of entries is less enough and balanced; the definitions are less accurate; the Chinese context is not adequately taken into consideration; and compared with written form, the spoken form is not paid enough attention. Keywords: A Dictionary of Global Huayu, Huayu dictionary, review 1. Introduction A Dictionary of Global Huayu (Chinese Language) is the first Huayu dictionary in the world which records varieties of Chinese language in different countries and regions in China. Nowadays Chinese is not only the China’s language, but also a language used all over the world. Differences between Huayu and Chinese are no longer sheer divergences of linguistic terminology. (Guo 2006) According to Guo (2004), Huayu is the common language of ethnic Chinese by the standard of Putonghua (Mandarin) . Huayu is distributed in mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, etc. Huayu not only includes the varieties of Putonghua, but also the varieties of Chinese dialects such as Cantonese, Min dialect. A Dictionary of Global Huayu (Chinese Language) has been published both in China and Singapore. The honorary consultants are respectively Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore, and Li Ruihuan of the former member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. There are 12 universities and institutes participating in compiling and over 30 compilers coming from China, Singapore and Malaysia, etc. A Dictionary of Global Huayu (DGH in brief) follows the descriptivism and mainly records the featured and distinctive words and senses. (Preface) The aims of compiling DGH are on the one hand, promoting communication, enhancing mutual understanding (Yu 2010), and strengthening the unity between ethnic Chinese; on the other hand, speeding up the pace of convergence of words, and facilitating the Chinese language learners. (Preface) 2. Outside matter DGH that published by the Commercial Press is covered by yellow hardcover (Singapore version by blue softcover) . DGH contains 36 pages of front matter, including the title page, copyright notice, preface, guide for dictionary use, table of contents, and two methods of index based on phonetics and strokes (22 pages) . It also contains 12 pages of back matter, appendix, including the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet in the Pinyin system, the comparison of distinctions of graphic in same Chinese characters, the comparison of distinctions on names of same countries and capitals in the Huayu circle. 3. Word collection DGH has two wordlists, of which the main one includes 10110 words (counted by the author) . Another wordlist covers the 162 words begun with a letter or number, which are divided into seven types. They are abbreviations such as DINK (the abbreviation of dual income no kids), letter words such as QQ (a corresponding software in the Internet), the combinations of le

FAQs

What is the main purpose of reviewing A Dictionary of Global Huayu?

The review evaluates both strengths and shortcomings of the first Huayu dictionary, focusing on its scope, coverage, definitions, and treatment of language forms for study and communication.

What are the key positive contributions mentioned in the abstract?

The dictionary is described as pioneering, expanding the influence of Chinese, and providing overseas Chinese speakers with a valuable reference book for learning and communication.

Which weaknesses are highlighted regarding entries and language coverage?

The review points out limited and imbalanced entry quantity, less accurate definitions, insufficient consideration of Chinese context, and comparatively less attention to spoken forms than written forms.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Terk