Sinicization, Sinicisation or Sinification, is the linguistic assimilation or cultural assimilation of terms and concepts into the language and culture of China. In linguistics, the term is used narrowly to refer to transliteration, and in this regard "Sinicization" is parallel to Romanization. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Assimilation (from Latin assimilatio; to render similar) may refer to more than one article: Assimilation (linguistics), a linguistic process by which a sound becomes similar to an adjacent sound. ... Cultural assimilation (often called merely assimilation) is an intense process of consistent integration whereby members of an ethno-cultural group, typically immigrants, or other minority groups, are absorbed into an established, generally larger community. ... Chinese culture has roots going back over five thousand years. ... Linguistics is the scientific study of language, which can be theoretical or applied. ... Transliteration is the practice of transcribing a word or text written in one writing system into another writing system. ... Languages can be romanized in a variety of ways, as shown here with Mandarin Chinese In linguistics, romanization (or Latinization, also spelled romanisation or Latinisation) is the representation of a word or language with the Roman (Latin) alphabet, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language...

In more general contexts, Sinicization refers to the process of "becoming Chinese" or "not Chinese" (desinicization). The term has been used in social science primarily to describe the assimilation of non-Han Chinese peoples (such as the Manchus) into the Chinese identity. Desinicization (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: , de + sinicization, meaning to get rid of the Chinese influence) is a term which appeared in the political vocabulary of the Republic of China on Taiwan in 2001 . ... Cultural assimilation (often called merely assimilation) is an intense process of consistent integration whereby members of an ethno-cultural group, typically immigrants, or other minority groups, are absorbed into an established, generally larger community. ... Languages Chinese languages Religions Predominantly Taoism, Mahayana Buddhism, traditional Chinese religions, and atheism. ... The Manchu people (Manchu: Manju; Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: , Mongolian: Манж) are a Tungusic people who originated in Manchuria (todays Northeastern China). ...

As with most assimilation topics, historical or otherwise, the concept of "Sinicization" itself is criticised by some social scientists, who claim the term is simply one form of cultural assimilation, and that applying a special term to Chinese assimilation (past and present) implies some special distinct process not found in cultural Americanization or Romanization.^{[citation needed]} Objectively, it is simply a term for Chinese assimilation, just as the other terms relates American and Roman assimilation respectively. Assimilation (from Latin assimilatio; to render similar) may refer to more than one article: Assimilation (linguistics), a linguistic process by which a sound becomes similar to an adjacent sound. ... Cultural assimilation (often called merely assimilation) is an intense process of consistent integration whereby members of an ethno-cultural group, typically immigrants, or other minority groups, are absorbed into an established, generally larger community. ... Romanization was a gradual process of cultural assimilation, in which the conquered barbarians (non-Greco-Romans) gradually adopted and largely replaced their own native culture (which in many cases were quite developed, like the culture of the Gauls or Carthage) with the culture of their conquerors - the Romans. ...

Taiwan and mainland China

In the politics of Taiwan, both terms are used to refer to an increase or decrease in cultural and economic ties with Mainland China. Both terms have been used more commonly after 2001. Since the 1990s, there has been general consensus in Taiwan in favor of the status quo, though there is some debate about what that is. There is also general consensus that the Taiwanese localization movement is favourable.^{[citation needed]} That is, emphasizing local culture and language. The Republic of China (ROC) currently has jurisdiction over Taiwan, Kinmen, Matsu, and the Pescadores Islands (Penghu) and several smaller islands. ... ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Taiwan Strait area The controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan hinges on whether Taiwan, including the Pescadores (Penghu), should remain the effective territory of the Republic of China (ROC), become unified with the territories now governed by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), or become the Republic of... Localization or Taiwanization (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Pe̍h-oē-jī: pún-thó͘-hòa) is a political term used within Taiwan to emphasize the importance of Taiwans culture rather than to regard Taiwanese as solely an appendage of China. ...

Also, the argument in the Republic of China on Taiwan between supporters of Chinese reunification and supporters of Taiwan independence is considered a matter of sinicization. Supporters of independence are generally wary of increasing cultural and economic links (such as the Three Links) with Mainland China. They feel it is part of a strategy by the People's Republic of China to "sinicize" Taiwan, thus making reunification inevitable. For the Chinese civilization, see China. ... Chinese (re)unification (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a goal of Chinese nationalism that refers to the reunification of all of Greater China under a single political entity. ... Taiwan independence (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: , Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p ūn-tōng; abbreviated to 台獨, Táidú, Tâi-to̍k) is a political movement whose goal is primarily to create an independent and sovereign Republic of Taiwan out of the... The Three Links or Three Linkages (Chinese: 三通; pinyin: sān tōng) are direct postal (通郵 tōng yóu), transportation (especially airline) (通航 tōng háng), and trade (通商 tōng shāng) links between Mainland China and Taiwan. ...

A modern meaning is the process by which other peoples like the Koreans, Japanese, and the Vietnamese are strongly influenced by Chinese culture and working practices, though historically peoples such as the Vietnamese fought many wars with China over the right to keep their culture and language (similar to Japan's attitude towards "barbarians" in World War II) and seizure of their land, resulting in their expulsion from China. Chinese culture has roots going back over five thousand years. ...

See also

• Transliteration into Chinese characters