Xu Guozhang on Language

Author: Xu Guozhang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-09-01
Features: On Language collects 25 essays. Some analyze the nature of language, while others review various aspects of linguistic research. Written between 1978 and 1990. Our linguistic research, dating back to after the founding of the nation, has a history of over forty years. Structuralist grammar analysis and generative syntax theory have both influenced us. Academic activities in linguistics can be broadly divided into two categories: Chinese department scholars focus on phonology, etymology, dialects, and Chinese grammar; while foreign language department scholars primarily introduce and explain the viewpoints of various foreign linguistic schools. The two fields have not yet converged. Researchers seem to pay little attention to the nature of language, its functions, or its origins. Exploring China's inherent linguistic philosophy from a modern linguistic perspective appears even less effort has been exerted. Even for common sayings like "language is a tool for communication" or "language is primarily spoken language," no one has pointed out that they may only apply to certain historical periods and are not suitable for the information age. Unassuming of myself, I wish to dedicate myself to this endeavor. There was once a learned scholar who said, "China has no linguistics" and also claimed, "ancient Chinese people mistakenly regarded writing as language." I believe China does have linguistics, with a rich accumulation. Xu Shen, Liu Xie, and Ma Jianzhong were great theoretical linguists. In the contemporary era, Jin Yuelin expounded his linguistic philosophy in On Knowledge. He Leshi's research on the Zuo Zhuan and Liji demonstrates her expertise in quantitative linguistics. I hear that in many university lecture halls around the world, thoughtful individuals guide young people to understand and analyze language, using it as the beginning of humanities research, the foundation of all scientific research, and a catalyst for transforming liberal arts students into scientists. How about us?