Linguistic studies in China have made progress

Author: Wang Shouyuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: At the end of 1983, Mr. Wang Zuoliang gifted me a copy of his 1980-published collection of essays, Essays on English Stylistics. The following spring, I was invited to attend the review meeting for the Teaching Syllabus of Stylistics, led by Mr. Wang Zuoliang, at Central China Normal University in Wuhan. Later, I also participated in the manuscript review session for An Introduction to English Stylistics, edited by Mr. Wang Zuoliang and Ding Wangdao, at Beijing Foreign Studies University. After that, I engaged in some stylistics research, compiled stylistics textbooks at Peking University, and offered stylistics courses, all in an effort to live up to Mr. Wang’s expectations. Through my own experiences, I have the following reflections: First, stylistics in our country was one of the disciplines that developed relatively early after the overthrow of the "Gang of Four." Second, during the development of stylistics as a discipline, Mr. Wang Zuoliang was a pioneer. As early as 1980, he foresaw the broad prospects of stylistics as a "flourishing field." Third, in Essays on English Stylistics, Mr. Wang Zuoliang had already discussed the complementary relationship between language and literature. We know that Mr. Wang excelled in literature but closely paid attention to new developments in linguistic theory and practice. This spirit of inclusiveness in his academic pursuits is truly admirable. Lastly, Mr. Wang Zuoliang’s enthusiasm for stylistics research was also driven by his exploration of reform paths for foreign language teaching in our country. As he stated at the manuscript review session at Beijing Foreign Studies University, stylistics courses could replace traditional intensive reading courses.