Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ)

Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ)

Intangible Heritage

Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ), also called Zhuyin Fuhao, is an intangible cultural heritage of Taiwan. It is a phonetic transcription system used exclusively in Taiwan to represent Mandarin pronunciation. Originating in the late Qing Dynasty, it was created to make Mandarin more approachable for learners and improve literacy rates. Unlike Pinyin, which uses the Latin alphabet, Bopomofo was designed as a completely independent script, aligning with the traditional vertical writing format of Chinese. It was added to the Unicode block in 1991, a crucial step in digital preservation. Today, it remains widely used in Taiwan—not only for typing and education but also as a symbol of cultural identity, appearing in signage, songs, merchandise, and business branding. Some experts argue that Bopomofo is a more efficient system for learning Mandarin because it aligns better with Chinese character structure. Digital interpretation, such as interactive language-learning apps and online courses using Bopomofo, can further engage both native speakers and learners. These advancements align with SDG4 (Quality Education) by making language learning more accessible and SDG11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities) by supporting the cultural sustainability of Taiwan’s linguistic heritage.

is51102025

ypc1@st-andrews.ac.uk

English

Intangible

1260

17/03/2025

cm x cm x cm

current,25.042682963967337, 121.51917119629742;

TEXT

3004