Recently, a news about the indictment of Xinhua Dictionary has caused a heated discussion on the Internet. A netizen chose to formally sue because some of the definitions in the Xinhua Dictionary were suspected of violating the "Regulations on the Administration of Publications". Much of the debate focused on whether the Xinhua Dictionary should objectively present language or whether certain words should be reviewed and revised.
This debate reminds me of events in my country's history that are closely related to language, gender and history. In this article, I'll take you through a review of these historical events and share some interesting facts about language, gender, and history.
Let's talk about Xinhua Dictionary first. Xinhua Dictionary is one of the most authoritative Chinese dictionaries in China, and its definition is considered to be a model of Chinese vocabulary. However, in this dictionary, there are some words whose definitions are controversial. For example, "* sex", "a pistol pinned to the waist", "the child has become a burden when he is small", etc. Some believe that these paraphrases are disrespectful to women and should not appear in the dictionaries of elementary school students. Others insist that dictionaries should objectively present the language and text, trying to make the full meaning of the words as clear as possible.
This debate reminds me of some thinkers in ancient China, such as Confucius and Mencius. They all emphasized the importance of language and believed that language was the cornerstone of human civilization. Confucius once said: "If the name is not right, the word will not be good, if the word is not good, the thing will not be accomplished, if the thing is not done, the etiquette will not be happy, and if the etiquette and music are not prosperous, the punishment will not be successful." The meaning of this is that if the name is not accurate, then the words will be confused, the thing will not be done, the liturgy will not arise, and the punishment will not be executed. Mencius also believed that language is an important characteristic that distinguishes human beings from other animals, saying, "The one who speaks is the only one who speaks." ”
However, language is not set in stone. As history evolves, so does language. For example, there is a big difference between ancient Chinese and modern Chinese. In ancient times, Chinese pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar were different from modern Chinese. Moreover, there are many dialects of ancient Chinese, such as Shandong, Cantonese, Fujian, etc. These dialects have their own characteristics in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.
In ancient times, people's attitudes towards language were very different from those they have today. In ancient times, it was believed that language was sacred, a gift from heaven to mankind. As a result, they have a great respect for language and believe that it can convey God's message. This idea is reflected in ancient religions and philosophies. For example, in Taoism, Taoist priests pray for the blessing of the gods by reciting mantras and reciting **.
However, in modern society, people's attitudes towards language have changed. Language is considered a tool, a medium through which people communicate their thoughts and emotions. As a result, people's requirements for language have also changed. They demand language that is accurate, clear, concise, and able to convey information quickly.
This change also affected the compilation of dictionaries. In ancient times, the main purpose of a dictionary was to preserve the ancient language and pass on the ancient culture. As a result, ancient dictionaries often contain a lot of ancient dialects and ancient cultural knowledge. However, in modern society, the main purpose of a dictionary is to provide accurate definitions and help people understand and use language. As a result, modern dictionaries tend to focus more on linguistic accuracy and utility.
Returning to the Xinhua Dictionary debate, we can see that this debate is actually a debate about language, gender, and history. Some people believe that the Xinhua Dictionary should objectively present the language and words, and try to supplement the full meaning of the words as clearly. This view is actually influenced by modern ideas of language. They believe that language should be objective and should not be influenced by any biases. Others argue that some of the definitions in the Xinhua Dictionary are disrespectful to women and should be revised. This view is actually influenced by modern gender concepts. They believe that language should respect women's rights and should not convey any message of discrimination.
This debate reminds me of some events in the history of my country. For example, in ancient times, women were often seen as appendages to men, and their rights were often neglected. However, in modern society, the status of women has improved, and they have begun to pursue their rights and happiness. This change has also affected the use of language. For example, in ancient times, people often used words like "sex" to describe men's behavior. However, in modern society, such words are considered disrespectful to women and should be avoided.
Overall, this debate is really a debate about language, gender, and history. It reflects modern society's attitudes and perceptions of language, gender, and history. I believe that these attitudes and perceptions will continue to change over time, and our society will become more equitable and inclusive. Netizens officially sued Xinhua Dictionary