Qi Yimin's "Mother's Tongue" reprinted, revealing the mystery of language
"The demise of dialects is equivalent to the weakening of individual culture"
"Mother's Tongue" was published recently. This is a "book of fringe" based on daily and surprisingly winning. The author Qi Yimin, with a broad cultural perspective, through the discussion and fun of more than 20 foreign languages and local dialects, revealed a variety of language mysteries that are difficult for ordinary scholars and writers to reach. Qi Yimin, author and author of this book, was interviewed by reporters.
Reporter (hereafter referred to as "Remember"): "Mother's Tongue" is your work published 20 years ago, what is the purpose and significance of this reprint
Qi Yimin (hereinafter referred to as Qi): Starting from the "judgment" of nearly 20 foreign languages and dialects, in fact, the final goal is to prove that Chinese is the most beautiful language in the world, but the general climate at that time could not endorse my research. Now, it seems okay, so I can say it boldly-until today, I still think so, the reason can not be simpler: Of all the "dangling characters" in the world, only Chinese is not completely separated from the pictographic "mother fetus", It is visually tempting and "bring your own beauty." Other languages are just symbols that are not based on original images. Therefore, Chinese is unique.
Reporter: How to understand "learning a language is equivalent to living a lifetime"?
Qi: Everyone must study in person. As for the difference between multilingual people and monolingual people, there is a lot of scientific research. Speaking of everyone, in fact, everyone has a personal experience-for example, what if you can only speak in dialect and not Mandarin? What if you have n’t learned English? After English, you haven't learned other "small languages", what will happen? Of course it is different.
With the compound eyes, naked eyes and radar of the one-eyed and dragonfly, it is impossible to see the same world observed.
Reporter: Do you think the dialect will die one day? If so, how do you view this demise?
Qi: This is the worst thing. At least in Shanghai and Hangzhou, there is already a crisis in dialects. The demise of dialect is equivalent to the weakening of personality culture, which is sad. It's hard to imagine what Shanghai would be like in Shanghai after 100 years. Once the dialect is lost, it will never regenerate.
Reporter: Is writing in dialect a challenge? Are there examples of success?
Qi: Writing in dialect is of course a challenge. Success is like "Sin Hai Hua". What I am now concentrating on is the language in the Zaju of the Yuan Dynasty, many of which were spoken at the time-Northern dialect. I feel that the language in the Zaju of the Yuan Dynasty is the most colloquial in Chinese, and it is really interesting. In short, the language world is the same as the real world, the richer the better. Who wants to live in a boring world?
(Tang Xiaodu)