VICE-PREMIER Xi Jinping, the man tipped to become China’s next leader, has called on the ruling Communist Party to cut back on the use of political jargon in the name of clearer communication.
The reporting of his speech on the front page of the Communist Party's main mouthpiece, the People's Daily, is significant.
While Mr Xi, speaking to more than 900 officials and new student cadres at the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, did not specify which jargon needed to be eradicated, his remarks do not bode well for some of the great Cold War language terms, such as “the Three Represents” and “Capitalist Roaders”.
It could also spell the end of the line for terms such as “new socialist countryside”.
Party officials, Mr Xi said, should try to focus on showing “substance” in word and deed.
They should diligently study the party’s basic theories, constantly acquire new knowledge, and learn from ancient Chinese literature to make their communications simple and concise, Mr Xi said at the opening of the school’s spring semester in Beijing.
“Glaring problems remain in our linguistic culture,” said Mr Xi, going on to say that “unhealthy” jargon could undermine the efficiency of party and government operations and waste time resolving practical problems.
Instead of lengthy, arcane speeches, Mr Xi urged party leaders to give short, concise and straightforward addresses, and to borrow “colloquial wisdom” from the public and make their speeches and articles more easily understood by common people.
The Cultural Revolution, between 1966 and 1976, was a golden era for jargon, and Mr Xi said much progress had been made in the three decades since in simplifying language.
Mr Xi, as anointed successor to President Hu Jintao, is responsible for explaining concepts credited to the head of state, including the “theory of scientific development” and the “eight honours and eight shames”, which aim to inculcate moral values in party members.