| English is clearly the lingua franca of today's modern world. This language began international service in science and research, civil aviation and postal services after the end of World War II. Today, via the information superhighway powered by the Internet and other communication technologies, English impacts everyone on the planet. China is no exception.
Despite the phenomenal growth of English, it's important to remember that English, like every other language, has a semantic life of its own. This fact brings political and practical consequences. Do not take for granted that English is English. Sometimes obscuring meaning is accidental, a simple fault in translation, and often harmless. Sometimes ambiguity is used to distort and confuse. Take, for example, the word peace-various countries use and interpret this concept differently. The user's purpose, whether it is religious, political, or even academic, drives the intent.
Just because English serves as the international language of economics, technology and sport does not mean that the English language will remain unambiguous in the areas of politics, religion and culture. Whether you are Chinese or foreign, when ordinary English words are used with controversial topics, words like aggression or freedom, watch out! The implied meaning by the speaker may not be the meaning understood by the listener. This miscommunication can become even more severe when loaded words, imperialist, communist, terrorist, for example, are injected into a communication. Even native speakers of English sometimes fail to notice that words may completely lose their original meaning in a short time period. The word disk is such an example. Words and concepts may present different meaning to both individual and to nations. They can also be distorted through the political background of the speaker as well. A good example is the word democracy. Depending on which political leader is saying, this term causes the meaning to change, sometimes dramatically.
Chinese students and other fans of English must beware of political double talk, semantic undercurrents and new meaning when using and listening to English. Grammar is not the problem. Rather, it is the hidden communication that may be conveyed through irony, sarcasm or even humor. A dictionary does not provide accurate translations in these cases, especially if the language is deliberately twisted by an astute communicator.
English double talk is increasing. It should be everyone's concern because English is now the global lingua franca, and used by everyone, not just native speakers. No matter whose mother tongue is behind the speaker's English, you will experience it. Terrorists use it; foreign governments employ it, and advertisers, politicians, even singers belt it out. In China, as elsewhere, television shows often add text to their images. This broadens the audience reach as well as adds emphasis, especially regarding news broadcasts.
Ironically, language is our most important communication tool, surpassing modern technology. Alice in Wonderland's Humpty Dumpty expressed a maxim for political leaders and advertisers in the Western world. When Alice asked why words could mean so many different things, he simply claimed that the problem lay not in the semantics, but "which was to be the master." In effect, words are weapons. Corporation executives and world leaders always try to use familiar English words to draw in their audience, but secretly they are giving an ideological twist to their meaning. They want to influence an unwary public to their way of thinking. This undercover manipulation of meanings of English as a lingua franca is seen in an extreme example by certain groups, who label their hostages guests.
Clearly, it is the use of language that prevents or promotes understanding among peoples. It is not the engineering, transportation or electronic media or other forms of modern technology. China has entered the global village and the global marketplace. The need for English is greater than ever before in this country. Yet harmony and understanding can be prevented by different goals among the world's nations. Everyone is speaking variations of English according to cultural, historical and national backgrounds. English has become a Tower of Babel, not by grammar or pronunciation differences, but because semantics are splitting apart efforts toward mutual understanding. Twisted language, politically biased slogans, dishonest advertising-the list goes on and on.
The writer Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, "A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged. It is the skin of a living thought that may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances in which it is used." These words were written long ago, but they point out the fact that everyone, Chinese or otherwise, who uses English must listen alertly to what is being said. Language distortion is real. Scrutinize meaning that comes from the media, businesses and political sources. Don't be gullible!
The author is an American who lives in Beijing |
