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)
