Strong Man English-Chinese Dictionary

Author: Luo Liming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The Zhuang ethnic group is the largest minority in China, primarily residing in the central and western parts of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southeastern Yunnan Province, and the areas adjacent to Guangdong, Hunan, and Guizhou provinces. With a total population of approximately 17 million, the Zhuang people living in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region account for 15.6 million (Guangxi Yearbook, 2002). The Zhuang have lived in the southern region for generations, being the indigenous people of the area with their own unique history and culture. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the "Luoyue" and "Xiwou" were the early ancestors of the Zhuang, as recorded in Han literature. The Zhuang people have long used the Zhuang language as a means of communication, holding a deep affection for it. The ancestors of the Zhuang were aware of the inconveniences of lacking a national script and, therefore, created ancient Zhuang characters around the Sui and Tang dynasties, which the people call "thaw24" and "dip55." Due to the lack of standardization, ancient Zhuang characters ultimately failed to become a unified script for the ethnic group. Pinyin Zhuang script is a new minority script created and approved for use by the Central People's Government after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Its creation has provided Zhuang people with convenience in mutual learning and exchanging ideas, as well as serving as a powerful tool for the development of Zhuang culture. Since the 1980s, to support the promotion and use of Zhuang script, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ethnic Minority Language and Script Work Committee has organized the compilation of numerous Zhuang language reference books, such as Zhuang-Han Vocabulary, Han-Zhuang Vocabulary, VAHCUENGHSWZDDENJ, and Compendium of New Zhuang Terminology. These reference books have played a positive role in promoting the study, research, and standardized use of Zhuang script, as well as advancing the development of Zhuang script standardization. However, with the development of society and the increased openness of Zhuang regions, this alone has failed to meet the growing needs of the Zhuang people, who yearn to learn about the external world, as well as the needs of domestic and international friends who wish to understand the social history and culture of the Zhuang ethnic group.