BOPOMOFO
2024The phonetic identity of the Taiwanese people
Bopomofo, a.k.a. Zhuyin, is Taiwan's predominant transliteration system for Mandarin Chinese. It functions as both an educational tool and a crucial element of daily communication, encompassing input methods, slang, wordplay, and coding. It was widely adopted across Mandarin-speaking countries, but nowadays, Taiwan stands as the sole nation where it continues to be utilised, making it a unique cultural marker for identifying fellow Taiwanese.
The chapters outline Bopomofo's components, notation, history, and applications, blending both formal and informal tones that are accessible to non-Mandarin speakers. The structure roughly follows the timeline in which most Taiwanese learn and incorporate Bopomofo into their lives. A specific shade of green, identical to that of the Taiwan passport, was chosen to reflect the editorial intent and is consistently used throughout the prints and materials.
BOPOMOFO seeks to celebrate this intangible cultural asset and, more importantly, to raise awareness of Taiwan's political and historical background. It is intended to serve beyond just an educational resource or visual representation but to be an inspiration and engagement to the broader community.
以口語為形式的台灣身份認同
注音符號作為台灣主要的文字標音系統，在大眾的教育及生活場景中俯拾皆是。儘管曾被數個華語國家所採用，台灣目前已成唯一將其作為官方標準之國家。在此背景下，注音儼然成為國民間的共同記憶與默契。
對照典型注音教育與應用之時序，本書混合正經八百及使人莞爾的文本，以非母語者可理解之圖文概括注音的符號、歷史與應用；裝幀方面，更選擇與身份認同、口語傳播概念呼應之色彩與後加工。
在傳揚這獨特的文化資產外，本書也試圖提高歐文讀者對台灣歷史及政治背景的認知，期許書籍不僅作為教育引導與視覺詮釋，也是使更多群體參與台灣文化的催化劑。
Sector
Art & Culture 藝術與文化
Discipline
Book 書籍設計
Naming 命名
Role
Editor + Designer 內容編輯 + 設計
Collaborators
Alice Chong 莊麗敏
David Farrar
Edwin Pickstone
Euan Moreland
Matthew Walkerdine
Megan Lin 林宛瑜
Peter Locke
Ruth Kirkby
Sean Black
Push Print Inc.
Specifications
105x160 mm, 112 pages
Digital CMYK + White printing 數位四色 + 白墨印刷
Softcover with debossing 平裝 + 打凹
Exposed spine bound 裸背膠裝