We don't need language that would fry bacon

The country has laws on the use of Chinese language and characters. All Chinese media and citizens have the legal responsibility and obligation to use regular Chinese characters and expressions. They have to realize that the Chinese language faces a great challenge to maintain its purity in these times of globalization and the internet.

The inflow of foreign words, the rise of the internet and the languages and expressions associated with it, and the information system have exposed the Chinese language to outward threats.

Perhaps it is time the education, language, publication and media authorities made joint efforts to raise people's awareness to defend the purity of the Chinese language.

That the media administrative department had to step in to take action against Jiang shows people cannot differentiate between healthy and harmful programs. It is a shame that investors and online media circles have been blinded by profits and have neglected their social obligations.

Some people feel that since Jiang has attracted investment from some investors, she has to be socially correct. In fact, one of Jiang's angel investors has passed a sarcastic remark on the suspension of her program. Why? Because the investor still does not realize Jiang's errors.

Some people argue that all languages have coarse and indecent terms, and all languages have self-purifying filters. But that cannot justify the lowering of standards and choice of improper expressions by the media. The media and performing artists have to be careful and prudent about the language they use because their audiences and viewers also include juveniles whose faculties are not fully developed and, hence, they can be swayed by wrong ideas and expressions.

Jiang has said she would try her best to provide her audience with better programs. If so, it will be a true test of her talents and her fans.

The author is a writer with China Daily. liyang@chinadaily.com.cn