I can't understand using same characters for both "face" and "noodle". The two words have different cultural backgrounds in traditional chinese. And characters looking different is easier to remember.
Yeah, simplified's pretty silly in that regard. And even someone like me who has alot of trouble with traditional feels like something is being lost in the transition. Still, it -has- contributed to increased literacy rates (as part of larger educational initiatives), so it does have its uses.
I don't believe the increased literacy rate is related to simplified chinese at all, you can teach traditional chinese and still have high literacy rates.
It's just part of industrialization, and China's been a pretty backwards country all the way up until the late 90s.
A pity there's been no studies made of such matters... or if those studies exist you'd have to be a member of some Party board to access them... and even if the studies existed they're probably twisted so they support Party idealogy... (I can say such things here, right?) >_>;
Personally I believe that simplified chinese is one of many factors that were responsible for higher literacy rates. How responsible is simplified chinese alone at raising literacy rates? Probably not very much so. But I do believe that it did have an impact. I can't really quantify or support that though. All I've got is general historic trend and anecdotes. And what I've heard come out of the Party. Which... yea.
Of course, take my opinion with a grain of salt. I'm pretty biased here in favor of simplification. :(
I'd point to Taiwan as a good example of simplified chinese having absolutely no "better" effect on literacy rates than traditional.
I can argue this sort of stuff all day, but lets take it to PMs if you really want to discuss this. Not discouraging it in any way shape or form but just want to keep posts here more on topic about yukkuris. :P
Marisa is mister winner at life! Did you have a good dream~?