Guard the Language Forest

Author: Jin Wenming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: German linguist Hermann Paul said, "Language is a great tree." He believed that language has its own life. Chinese essayist Qin Mu compared language to a forest, full of vitality and diverse landscapes. After his well-known work Gathering Pearls from the Art Sea, he wrote another linguistic titled Gathering Gems from the Forest of Language. Mr. Jin Wenming seems to agree with these metaphors, naming his new work "Guarding the Forest of Language." However, the first time I encountered these four characters, I felt an unprecedented shock. The impression it left me with can be described in one word: tragic. Since the founding of New China, there have been three instances of linguistic and textual chaos. The first occurred in the early years of the republic, when a large number of workers and peasants took the political stage, but they had not received systematic cultural education, leading to some "intolerable chaos" in their language use. In response, People's Daily published an influential editorial titled Struggle for the Purity and Health of the Mother Tongue. The second instance was during the decade of chaos, when the linguistic life, like the political life, experienced intense turmoil, and "some beautiful linguistic traditions of the Chinese nation were destroyed and trampled." Writing was not standardized, and language violence ran rampant. Only after the Cultural Revolution ended did the "wounds" of language begin to heal. Now, we are in the third phase of linguistic chaos, a long-term and widespread one: typos abound, language use is arbitrary, and the "rules of the game" for language are facing severe challenges. Faced with the "last night's west wind withered the green trees," leaving behind a mess, Mr. Jin Wenming issued an inner cry: "Guard the Forest of Language!" How much courage and determination does that take! It reflects a cultural conscience and carries a historical responsibility. These four characters are a solemn promise, with each word weighing a thousand pounds. Mr. Jin is not only a brave man but also a wise one. His bravery is built on wisdom. He once taught and later spent decades working as an editor. To appreciate Homer, one must elevate oneself to Homer's level; similarly, an editor must be able to engage in dialogue with the author to master the manuscript. Mr. Jin is just such a competent editor. He treats every proofreading practice as a research process. To accurately judge manuscripts, he delved into etymology, phonology, bibliology, as well as official documents, local gazettes, inscriptions, and stone carvings, becoming a typical scholar-type editor. Even more commendable is that Mr. Jin not only has a solid academic foundation but also a rigorous editorial attitude. When he heard an expert criticize a certain editor for not knowing that Yuan Yi was the same as Yuan Haowen, he immediately took it as a warning, meticulously collected materials, and compiled a Chronological Table of Tang and Song Dynasty Writers' Names, Titles, and Lifespans for his own reference during proofreading. This table is 2.5 meters long and includes all the great names from the Tang and Song dynasties. No pain, no gain. Because of such dedication, Mr. Jin has a bird's-eye view of manuscripts and possesses a special professional sensitivity to linguistic and textual errors, especially those related to historical and literary knowledge. Now, Shanghai is in the process of establishing a publishing museum. I would like to solemnly suggest that Mr. Jin's table be included as a collection. This table not only showcases Mr. Jin Wenming's editorial attitude but also reflects the cultural spirit of a generation of publishers. I once thought that with Mr. Jin's academic background, if he were to teach in a university, he would undoubtedly be an excellent teacher with a wide range of students. His genuine knowledge would make empty professors ashamed. If he were to do research in a research institute, he would surely be a renowned scholar with a wealth of publications, leveraging his research spirit and cultural insight to achieve fruitful results. Yet, it is just such a well-read expert who, for decades, has tirelessly and selflessly devoted himself to editorial work without complaint. Many major cultural projects, such as Cihai and Great Dictionary of the Chinese Language, have benefited from Mr. Jin's dedication. This is a blessing for Chinese publishing and a blessing for Chinese culture. With a group of skilled editors like Mr. Jin, Chinese publishing has written a new chapter of glory. Today, Mr. Jin, with great enthusiasm, focuses on the use of language and characters, becoming a sincere guardian of the Forest of Language. The articles included in this book may be just explorations of single words or phrases, but they are substantive, insightful, well-supported, and thoroughly analyzed. Without deep professional expertise, it is difficult to reach such a level. As the ranks of Forest of Language guardians continue to grow, the third phase of linguistic chaos will surely end soon. Culture needs continuity, and the Forest of Language needs guardians. After reading this book, the one thing I most want to say is: "I salute Mr. Jin Wenming!"