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Chinese Government Moves To Crack Down On Puns
FreedomFirstThenPeac (1235064) writes "A story in The Guardian tells us that in an Orwellian move to legislate language, the Chinese government is attempting to stop the use of puns because they are disruptive and may lead to chaos (not the mathematical kind) and as such are unsuitable for use. However, Chinese is rife with puns, with this example quoted in the story: "When couples marry, people will give them dates and peanuts – a reference to the wish Zaosheng guizi or 'May you soon give birth to a son.' The word for dates is also zao and peanuts are huasheng." The powerful date and peanut lobbies are up in arms, claiming that such a ban will cost them more than peanuts. Their claim? "If you outlaw puns. Only criminals will have puns."
... I don't know whether to slap my chin or knees.
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
Many man smoke, but Fu Man Chu.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
Chinese pundits frequently opine upun political matters with clever word play. It's much more difficult to use automated search for all the combinations of characters that can phunetically mean something political. Those seeking a "harmonious society" therefore hate the practice.
If video games influenced behavior the Pac Man generation would be eating pills and running away from their problems.
Puns don't kill people, comedians with puns kill people.