Agency Blocks Couple From Naming Baby </Fetus>

SHANGHAI, CHINA - The Chinese State Language Commission has blocked a couple from naming their baby </fetus>, according to Li Jinsao, spokesman for the authority. The action bolsters an official ban of names containing foreign alphabets and minority Chinese languages. The couple, who's name is also Li, had previously attempted to name the child after the '@' symbol, which was also struck down by the Commission.

Relatives expressed exasperation over the decision. "We're running out of names." said Li Xanxu, spokesman for the child's family, commenting on the fact that 90% of the over 1.3 billion Chinese share only about 100 surnames. "We don't want to disrespect the language, but we need some identity here."

The Commission has become increasingly firm in enforcing regulations intended to protect the purity of the Chinese language. Much of the growing middle class has adopted western lifestyles, which has spurred the increased use of a hybrid dialect known as 'Chinglesh'. Although 'Chinglesh' has become widely acceptable among the population - and even necessary for some businesses and internet users - for many, a stigma is still attached to deviations from the mother tongue.

"Our language is our identity." says Li Yuming, language curator at the Commission, seated behind his 1,472 character keyboard. "Some of these surnames date back thousands of years, and besides - mathematically speaking - there are plenty of names to go around."

Other Shanghai residents sympathize with the Li's plight. "I would like our child to have a distinctive name as well." said Li Munju, a businessman who is expecting his first son in three months. "I think Prince's symbol was based on Chinese characters. And since he changed his name back, it should be available."

© 2007 - The Daily Redundancy