Cross-strait language database
A Cross-strait language database is an online Chinese word database launched by the General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC) in 2012 to store information about different Chinese characters and words usage exchanges.[1]
2008-2009
In 2008 Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou initially planned to deliver a cross-strait cultural exchange dictionary (中華大辭典) that people on either side of the strait Taiwan or mainland China can use.[2][3] Further discussions were held in July 2009 at Changsha on the collaboration of the project and reduce the differences between the different sets of characters.[4] For example the Chinese word for software is known as "ruanti" (軟體) in Taiwan, but "ruanjian" (軟件) in mainland China.[5] The database could help point out differences in the divergence of words over 60 years of separation between the two regions.
2012
On February 8, 2012 a press conference was held to open up the database. While Ma have said there are no political intentions. He did defend the use of traditional Chinese characters.[1] He said Simplified Chinese characters are too streamlined, and there is no logic requiring pure memorization.[6] For example the characters for Han (漢), the surname Deng (鄧) and the word for theatre (戲) has no relation. But the simplified form make it appear as if they are related:（汉）,（邓）,（戏）.[6] There were also questions from educational panels that this project may violate the "language neutrality act" (語言平等法) since Taiwan has many languages including aboriginal languages.[7]
Taiwan released a version at Chinese-linguipedia.org, and mainland China released their own version at Zhonghuayuwen.org.[8][9]