Like Chinese modern arts and culture, the Chinese language has
begun to gather interest from western culture. However, modern
Chinese is said to be like a baby, that born weak and without
proper nutrition, has failed to thrive, despite such large numbers
of speakers of a national language. Now, some insightful people are
trying their best to develop and bring fresh expression to the use
of Chinese language today. Following, are some of these innovative
contributors.
Jin Yong: heroic fairy tales (Writer)
Everywhere in the world that the Chinese live, and in every
Chinatown across the globe, there are novels written by Jin Yong.
As a very popular writer, Jin's complete work of 15 novels are
almost required reading for Chinese youngsters. He uses clear
modern ideas in a classically accurate and succinct style, and
turned the tide of interest in traditional popular literature which
used to be considered obscure, absurd and full of useless
platitudes. Consequently, martial arts novels, although not very
elegant, have gradually become a winning formula in literary
circles and attracted mass attention. As a result, Jin is regarded
as China's second literary cultural idol of the 20th century, next
only to Lu Xun.
There is even a special "Jin's school" in China's literature
circle. He creates thrilling plots, in-depth character analysis and
a striking artistic atmosphere, as well as a vivid use of
individual vernacular dialogue. Jin's novels not only illustrate
the old heroic dreams of a traditional society but also of the
common man living in the modern age by reflecting a desire to out
step time and space. The martial arts dream world of Jin's fiction
is a fabulous fantasy world.
Zhao Benshan: performer of exaggeration (Performance writer)
Zhao Benshan is a talent. He is capable of combining the rhythm and
tune of the traditional art of Er Ren Zhuan (ballad singing, spoken
prologue to song-and-dance duet) with modern skit. He combines
rural slang with popular modern words and makes them fit audiences'
aesthetic taste. As language is essential in the performances of
Zhao, he is a skilled master of a Liaoning dialect, which is very
powerful. Lots of doggerel verses, witty remarks, as well as
two-part allegorical sayings (of which the first part, always
stated, is descriptive, while the second part, often unstated,
carries the message.) constitute the spirit of his exaggerated and
humorous performance. On the base of that, Zhao's "culture is the
proper limits" directly shows the importance of mastering the
relationship between essence of cultural and traditional ballad
singing.
Wang Jiawei: imagination through time and space (Film maker)
In the description of urban indifference, individual emotional
expression, as well as the concept of time and the beauty of human
nature, Wang Jiawei uses post-modern language to set up a Wang
Jiawei film world. There in, is the most beautiful imaginative
construct of time and space, a most dramatic internal monologue as
well as a confused but very natural aside. The dialogue in the
films of
All About A Fei,
Chongqing Forest, and
Ashes of Time have become unrivalled characteristics of
Wang's language which is widely passed on by his followers. Of
course, at the beginning he strove sedulously to create this
special environment thanks to the power of dialogue. And, it is
incredible that with this innovative use of language and dialogue,
Wang's line of thought on shooting film, creating and arranging new
ideas has led to great opportunities for Chinese language use.
Bei Dao: brilliant poetry (Poet)
Bei Dao is a born humanist. Sparing no time in looking through
history or at a ridiculous present, Bei has calmly formed a unique
"cold lyricist" style with considerable erudition. His poems mock a
strange and irrational world and reflect on a past and present. Bei
Dao redefines human values and recalls man's natural instincts. As
a leading exponent of obscure avant-garde poetry, Bei Dao overturns
the appearance of traditional Chinese poems, opening up a new
prospect with a bold and unrestrained pen. "In an era without
heroes, I only want to be a man," he writes. The poems are
biographical, in which "contemptibility is the loser's passport
while elegance is the elite's epitaph", describing the mindset of a
generation of young people.
Lin Xi: sensitive composer (Lyricist)
With a "heavyweight" pop music dictionary in his hand, the very
young Lin Xi surprises people with his wonderful lyrics. Aimed at
citizen's urban ennui, Lin's lyrics give a vivid description of
human nature: exquisite and sensitive; sexy and perceptual; happy
and dispirited; sad and cruel... each kind of feeling he writes of
is widely circulated and sung through pop music in accordance with
market demand. Therefore, actually after contributing the lyrics of
many pop songs, like
Ambiguous,
Happy Together, he
has quietly composed a beautiful traditional Chinese poem on an
easily "quick-tempered" society.
Wang Shuo: a philistine or hero to the common man (Writer)
Wang Shuo, a genuine language genius who grasps the essence of
Beijing's local dialect, uses pop slang to good effect. He uses
banter well and avoids extolling virtues and nobility. The
disintegration of the inflexibility of traditional Chinese
literature which is serious and decent then becomes visible. Many
sentences created by Wang Shuo have become popularized in China.
Phrases such as, "I am bad?- I am unafraid", "Be adventurous
before you die", "Please don't call me human." From
Air
Hostess,
Half Seawater and Half Firelight,
Animal
Ferocious to the later
Naughty Men,
Without
Respectability,
Nobody is a Fool and
No knowledge, No
Fear, Wang takes a clear stand on his popular language style
which has influenced a whole generation's expressive style of
speaking and writing. Most importantly, he offers people a new way
to see the world.
Qiong Yao: beauty of sentimental fiction (Romantic Writer)
With 40 years of romantic literature and TV, Qiong Yao has
influenced three generations of Chinese with sentimental
entertainment. In a special world made of "flowers, grass, moons
and timid love" built by simple sentences, Qiong Yao has made large
numbers of youngsters know what innocent love is. She is very
constructive to her followers who devote themselves to writing
romantic fiction and publishing, film and TV circles which are
marked with her logo. Saying that delivering feelings is her
creative motive, Qiong Yao provides not only many best selling
works and popular TV series, but a perfect demonstration of the
charm of the Chinese language via popular literary creations.
(China.org.cn by Li Xiao, August 27, 2003)
