The controversy over the interpretation of the Xinhua Dictionary is a discussion about the inheritan

Mondo Culture Updated on 2024-01-30

Recently, a netizen posted a lawsuit against Xinhua Dictionary, believing that several definitions in the dictionary are suspected of violating the "Regulations on the Administration of Publications".

There have been similar controversies before. In June last year, in response to complaints from netizens that there were problems with the interpretation of the "Xinhua Dictionary", the Quanzhou County Procuratorate in Guangxi Province launched a special inspection, which was later determined by the higher-level procuratorate to be improperly performed. In June this year, some netizens pointed out that the "Xinhua Dictionary" deleted the word "倭寇", and it was later proved that in all versions from the 50s of the last century to the present, the word "倭寇" has not been included under the word "倭".

Xinhua Dictionary has accompanied the growth of generations of Chinese people, and has played an irreplaceable role in inheriting Chinese culture and promoting the standardization of the Chinese language.

In response to the controversy, some experts believe that some definitions are only examples based on linguistic facts, while positive and derogatory words, positive words and negative words are all part of the Chinese vocabulary system, and the inclusion of negative and negative words in the Xinhua Dictionary conforms to the norms of lexicography.

Many netizens also joined the discussion. Some netizens said, "Although there are indeed some problems with "Xinhua Dictionary", using these points to attack is somewhat of a way to win attention and traffic." Some netizens think, "It's not necessarily right, but it's true that the "Xinhua Dictionary" should be revised." ”

Multiple versions of the "Xinhua Dictionary" Source: CCTV.

There is a consensus that language is a key tool for cultural transmission and education, and should be given great attention.

There are two focal points in the controversy: one is the boundary of dictionary interpretation, that is, the core function of dictionary as a reference book is to paraphrase, and when the definition involves socially sensitive topics, how to grasp the boundary and scale of interpretation?The second is about the social responsibility of the dictionary, as an authoritative reference book, should the Xinhua Dictionary provide interpretation in a timely manner to consider the changes in social and cultural background and values?

First of all, it can be seen from the controversy that the public has high expectations for the accuracy of language and the normativity of inheritance. With the development of the times and the progress of society, the old definitions and example sentences of some words may no longer meet the needs of modern society, and dictionary definitions should be particularly cautious about words involving sensitive topics such as gender and family to avoid discrimination and prejudice. At the same time, it should also be noted that many characters in Chinese characters have derogatory connotations, and they are often formed due to specific historical backgrounds and social and cultural concepts, and it is not very necessary to correct them one by one, and the language is constantly developing, and many words with derogatory connotations before have either gradually faded out of the scope of daily use, or diluted the discriminatory color.

Secondly, as a classic reference book, Xinhua Dictionary is a cultural carrier that plays an important role in shaping social values, and the dictionary definition should reflect social progress and conceptual renewal, which puts forward higher requirements for compilers and publishers. But the main task of the dictionary is to explain the meaning of words, which is an objective description of linguistic phenomena. The guidance of young people's values depends on the joint efforts of many parties, and it is not appropriate to ask a dictionary to assume such responsibilities excessively.

Many people may not know that there is a lot of truth in this little dictionary. For more than 70 years, under the tradition of "compiling small dictionaries by university scholars," a number of cultural builders in New China have compiled, revised, and published the "Xinhua Dictionary" with a rigorous academic style and high-level academic qualifications. Therefore, it can stand the test of time and win the recognition of a wide range of readers. In the face of doubts, the compilation team of "Xinhua Dictionary" also said that it would take the feedback of netizens seriously and conduct a comprehensive review and revision of the dictionary.

Scholars who have participated in the compilation and revision of the "Xinhua Dictionary" Source: CCTV.

During the discussion, the public gave some valuable suggestions for the revision of the Xinhua Dictionary, such as establishing a dynamic revision mechanism to ensure that the interpretation is synchronized with social developmentStrengthen the review and supervision of interpretations to ensure that the content is both accurate and in line with modern values;Introduce multiple perspectives to ensure that the interpretation is more comprehensive, objective and inclusive, and reduce bias and discrimination.

The times are developing, and the connotation and extension of the meaning of words are constantly expanding and changing. The revision of dictionaries and dictionaries should not only continue the historical and cultural traditions, keep our roots and souls, but also keep pace with the times and reflect the development of language and culture.

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