Page
THE HONGKONG UNIVERSITY.
(Continuid from page 4) aim to promote the academic interests which are thus committed to my care and, with your permission, I propose to-day in my inaugural address to pre sent for your consideration certain ideas which I trust may be helpful to that aection of the Faculty of Arts in this University which concerns itself with thing Chinese.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18TH, 1926
million buman beings, and its importance for the future of mankind cannot be exaggerated.
Its best
Dr. Koch, pursuant to notice, naked; Will the Head of the Sanitary Depart- ment ascertain the source of the water. used by the distillers to reduce the
- monosyllabic. At a much later date, pound is the word fçpart meaning of this Forbidden City may be thrown alcoholic strength of Chinese, wine
THE NEED OF A COMMON SPEECK IN CHINA.
1
"
FEED EI A SECOND LANGUAGE. I must also guard myself against the misconception that I have any desire to see a reformed Chinese language sub stituted for English as the medium of instruction in this University. Such an idea is so far from my mind that I would rather give it as my settled opinion that no Chinese can make a really scientific study even of his own language without
in
(b) Also the source of the water, used in the manufacture of Chinese vinegar.
The President of the Board. replied as
follows:-I am informed by the Super- intendent of Imports and Exports that focal distilleries in almost all cases obtain their water supply from shallow wells dug on the premises or small hill- side streams. In a few cases they use
The water is never boiled before being used to dilute the wins and except for casual washing the wine jacs are not subjected to any special treatment. Vinegar is made in certain Distilleries and except that the water is warned but not boiled, the same remarks apply.
Dr. Kock asked whether these dis tilleries could not be supplied with water instead of them using it from sumps, wells and streams. These people had to pay for their licences, and in his opinion they should have the privilege of a decent supply of water. This would ensure that Chinese wines were made with pure water. Under present circumstances, it wines were kept any length of time any deterioration in the water would be intensified, and there lies the danger. It was a question whether typhoid might not be due to impurities in wines, owing to the water that was at present being used. In his opinion the distillers should be supplied with water from a purc source.
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other languages with very reasonable
SANITARY BOARD. accuracy anything that the Chinese write or say but from early times the Chinese
QUESTION OF WATER ̃USED IN themselves have experienced difficulty in
I wish to guard myself carefully against
CHINESE WINE. translating the works of other peoples any suggestion that the remarks which I into their own language. Let me take have made are intended as a disparage: The question of the purity of the water first the case of a famous Chinese mis ment of the Chinese language and litera-used by Chinese distillers of wins came translation from the Buddhist suras ture. Nothing is further from my In the Banskrit version of the rutrus, thoughts. I have devoted many years of before the Sanitary Board at a meeting, from which the Chinese translated my life to a study of Chinese and my held yesterday. „Mr. N. L. Smith pre. Buddha is Yery frequently called study has left me with a profound ad-
and sided, and other members present, were amlokiteçvara. This is compound miration of Chinese literature word and it may be analysed as follows: especially of Chinese poetry. But the Dr. W. W. Pearse (M.O.H.), 'Dr. W. In the remote age, when human speech dra is a preposition and means "over" Chinese language has in a very real sense V. M. Koch, Dr. J. C. McGown, Mr. was first becoming articulate, two inven- lolita is the participle of the verb for the defect of its qualities tions of far-reaching importance were to look and aea-lobita means "over-quality is the concise, lucid and pictures Wong Kwong Tin, Lieut. Col. S. Boylan made by widely sundered races of man-looking." Now there is in Sanskrit & que manner in which it portrays Chinesa Smith and Mr. G. S. Kennedy Skipton kind. The progenitors of the Indo-set of phonetic laws, called Sandhi, lite and thought. Ita corresponding de- (Secretary). There were also present European race, living as seems probable governing the manner in which vowels feat is that, possibly because it forms Bo in the steppe country east of Europe and consonants are combined; and one excellent a medium for the study of things Dr. Severn (Assistant M.O.H.) and Mr. and north of India evolved a mode of of these inws prescribes that, when the Chinese, it is a very refractory medium D. Davies, Assistant Becretary. speech which was inflexional and poly- vowels a and i meet, they merge into for the interpretation of Western ideas. syllabic: while the progenitors of the the vowel sound e. Bearing this law in It forms indeed a scrt of Forbidden City Chinese race, who appear to have in mind and resolving the letter e in into which anything that is not Chinese habited the Yellow River basin, created qualokiteçuara into its component parts, can enter only in disguise, if at all. The a language which was non-inflexional and we find that the latter half of the com. problem for solution is how best the gates
The whole compound, open. probably not earlier than the first sovereign." millennium before Christ, aiphabetic therefore, is a description of Buddha as seripts of various kinds were invented the sovereign who overlooks mankind or adapted for the use of the Indo- from above But the Chinese translators European language in different parts of knew nothing of sandhi, and they also the world. Such are the mugari script failed to take note of the fact that there for Sanskrit, the cuneiform script for are in Sanskrit three sibilaats, which Persian and the Phoenician script for western scholars transliterate 8, O and Greek and Latin. Later still the Arabic Sh respectively. Accordingly they analy method of writing numerals was adopted sed the compound avalokiteetara into throughout Europe. Meanwhile in China two component parts avalokita and the invention of a non-inflexional mono-, which they translated as ever first acquiring a competent knowledge of the ordinary public supply. There is no syllabic language, in which monosyllables fooking (bun) and "sound" (yam). seme indexional language and that he will control over their water and the Chinese
"MODERN MISTRESS the phrase Overlooking find no language more useful than Eng-seem to be of the opinion that any water of the same sound are further different. Of course, inted from each other by intonation, was Sound" makes nonsense but neverthe-lish for such a purpose When we look is barnless when used for such purposes. followed by the equally remarkable in less the words un-yam or in Pekingese through the eye-piece of a telescope, we
5 Rings and 63 Glu Inbuilt Copper Boiler vention of an ideographic script. Tois Kuan-yinand in Japanese Exaunon see the object in the field of vision, but script was entirely without an alphabet have now a very wide vogue and form the telescope itself disappears from. view and it was in origin a pictorial system. the name of a much worshipped goddess Similarly when we use cur mother tongue which made appeal to the eye and not in the Buddhist pantheon. May 1, how as an instrument for the expression of to the ear. By degrees, however, all ever, explain to you the reason why I thought, we lose sight of its grammatical ideograms were split up-in some cases have gone into such detail concerning syntactical and etymological peculiarities; very arbitrarily into two component this mistranslation? It is because I defy and these peculiarities are best brought home to us when we place our pative parts, namely a radical element which any Chinese scholar, be he a hon-lan or appeals to the eye and indicates the even a chong-gan to translate what I language side by side, with another an General meaning of the word, and have just said into Chinese. The Chinese guage, or preferably with several other phonetic element which suggests the language is such that these thoughts languages, and study them is comparison Hound of the word. A good example is cannot be expressed in it and that as it were from outside. say this as the ideogram tu. which means "aChinese words for much of what I have one who has taken a lifelong interest song." and in which the radical element just said do not exist. The Chinese philology: bat as a man of the world and depicts a mouth speaking, whit the rest translators of the Buddhist sutras felt a persistent traveller over the earth's of the ideogram (it written without the this, difficulty themselves. There was a highways and byways, I would add that radical prefix) would still be pronounced time in the earlier period of my service I greatly cherish the hope that some day - and is a picture of three mouths in Hongkong when I amused myself by a League of Nations will agree to teach
grouped together.
making a detailed comparison between all children of whatever race and people some of the Sanskrit sutras and their from youth upwards one and the same Chinese translations. All that I then did second language in addition to their Now the obvious advantage of picture went to the bottom of Hongkong harbour native language and that this language, writing as distinct from alphabetic script with several other manuscripts in the common to all people on earth, should World-wide is that the picture at once suggests the typhoon of 1906; but I well remember he the English language. meaning of a word. but the alphabet that time and again, as I read the action on these lines would, I firmly be does not. On the other hand the equally Chinese version, I came upon passages lieve, do more to promote peace and and bvious disadvantage of picture writing
be effected by is that the idea conveyed by the ideogram which seemed entirely meaningless until goodwill among
I turned to the Sanskrit original, when nations than can ever can be spoken in a multitude of waya,
I found that the Chinese was at these treaties or conventions. wherons a word written alphabetically points not a translation but a transhtera- has, subject of course to different nunction from the Sanskrit, The baffed of pronunciation among different peoples, Chinese translator had, in fact, content-
Such a hope will not be fulfilled in our only one sound. If I point to a pictured himself with reproducing the sound, lifetime: but may I in eonclusion take of a man and ask a child to tell me what and not the sense, of the Sanskrit werd up a more lowly standpoint and suggest that the austere, manner in which the it is the English child will say man,'
homme the French child.
and the
Chinese language frowns at everything Cantonese child "yan." But if I write
Now I venture to think that, if we which is not Chinese perhaps accounts. alphabetically the word magnanimity, pass from ancient to modern times, the for the fact that so many Europeans live
Dr. PEARSE said he did not wish to English, French and Cantonese children, difficulties met by the Chinese translators for years in Hongkong and in the Chinese provided they can spell, will all give it of the Sanskrit utrns will be felt in an treaty perts without making any effort encourage the idea that the presence of much the same sound. Now this fact has even greater degree by any one who to speak or to read the Chinese language alcohol in this water made it safe, for the peculiar compradors that was incorrect, but there was no had an important historical result in to-day attempts to translate, say, Haget's Accordingly China: for it is the reason why the Logic or the writings of Einstein into system has come into being and we have doubt that when properly bottled and Chinese spoken language charges from Chinese. But it, may justly be said that a whole host of intermediaries between sealed, and with little air in the bottle, Only alcohol was certainly anti to anything province to province, although the writ these works are so abstruss that they the Westerners and the Chinese. ten language is the same throughout the present great difficulties in respect of Government offcials and missionaries, as that there might be in the water. The length and breadth of the land. Let me translation into any language whatsoa ruje, enn deal direct with the Chinese Board's powers, however, were limited to take for instance, a Chinese word, which ever. Take; therefore, instead such who surround them, and hence arise many consideration of well water, and they had In this no control over water supplied from the has been adopted into the English-lang-writings as the simplest text book of regrettable misunderstandings.
In his opinion, the Board uage and which is constantly on our lips, English graminar, or of modern geo-matter there seems to be room for give streams. the word tea." The ideogram for this graphy, history or science: how are they and take. The Chinese admittedly desire should have more control over the water acquire Western learning. They supplied in such places as distilleries. word() is pronounced ch'a both by to be translated into a non-alphabetical to Cantonese and Pekingese and thence script? Or consider the case of arith should, therefore, endeavour to make their Of course, certain bye-laws were now be comes the Russian chai, doubtless be-metic, algebra or trigonometry; is it not language a more flexible medium for fore the Governor, and if they were ap cause the Russians got their tea from clear that no works on such subjects can conveying western thought The Euro- proved the Board would have power to the Chinese of the north. But the same be translated into Chinese without adopt peans wish to trade with the Chinese. make provision for a satisfactory water ideogram in Fukien is pronounced fing the whole system of numerical and They should, therefore, make a sincere supply as a condition of the licence. and, as British traders first brought tea mathematical notation invented in the effort to acquaint themselves with the I Government off- to England from the Fuxien province, it west? The fact is that the Chinese Chinese language. was natural that they should bring with language and the Chinese script form cials and missionaries can do so, why The CBATEMAN said that at this stage cannot the merchants follow suit? If he thought it would be sufficient if he them its Fukienese name and hence the an excellent medium for the study of
would pay them handsomely and they undertook to take up the matter with the English word "tea. Now it is evident things Chinese, but that Chinese mono-
would soon find that there is not chly Government, and report to the Board that two Chinese, who wish to talk about syllables and Chinese ideograms are a tea, will not easily understand each kind of linguistic bed of Procrustes, into profit, but also pleasure, in forming at a later date. He would take up the friendships with Chinese gentlemen of matter not only of this specific question other if, while ont speaks of the beverage which thoughts and words that are alien the old school, who may perhaps not have of distilleries and brewing of vinegar, but been westernized as is the case with many also the question of Food preservation as ti, the other calls it ch'a: and this to the Chinese can only be forced by is only one instance of the strangely such drastic choppings and changings as
of the younger generation, but who in establishments. different sounds given by Chinese difto render them unrecognizablo.
intelligence, uprightness and good man- Dr. McGown said he thought that the ferent provinces to the same ideogram
ners have nothing to learn from the West question of water used in anything which WORK FOR THE FACULTY OF ARTS. in a very great number of cases. Con-
Now, "inasmuch as no true educational Here again I think that the Hongkong is for human consumption, should con- sequently, whereas the written language has been a bond of union between the advance in China can be made without University has before it a wide sphere tinually be kept in mind, especially at Eighteen Provinces, the spoken language an assimilation of western knowledge, of usefulness: and I propose a 300n the time that licences for these places
were being granted.
Jr. PEARSE Baid that if the bye-laws divides various sections of the Chinese it follows either that the Chinese spoken possible to enquire how far the Faculty race quite as much as different languages and written language must be modised of Arts can assist the Hongkong Govern- divide the several nations of Europe. by the addition to it of an alphabet in ment in the higher education of our cadets already considered by the Board were
in the Chinese language and generally iry The inconvenience of this fact can be a manner similar to that in which the readily experienced by Anyone who Japanese kane supplements the Japanese things Chinese and also to ascertain what approved, the Board would have power clac that the Chinese arrangements can be made to afford to declare that any place in which food similar facilities in the University for (which includes Chinese wine and vine. moves among the Chinese population of ideograms, or Hongkong. Most people here speak people must become bilingual and teach young English business-men, who look Bar) was produced, must come under the
are their children some alphabetic foreign forward to making a career in China. supervision of the Board. generally Hoklos, the villagers are often language in addition to their mother because, important though it is for this. There was no further business. Hakkas, and many of the Chinese police tongue. A decision between these alter University to interpret Western thoughts are from Shantung and speak the dialect natives will have very far-reaching and aspirations to China, it is no less of that province. I have myself heard effects upon the future of China: and I
Cantonese, but, the chair-coolies
TRANSLATION OF MODERN WRITINGS.
different
races
NEW USES FOR THE UNIVERSITY..
The PRESIDENT Said the Superintendent of Imports and Exports had not given him any figures as to the locality of these distilleries, but his recollection was that the majority were situated in outlying parts of the Colony, and he would say the majority were in places where there was no public water supply. He would obtain the figures. Regarding the effect of alcohol in the water, he could say. nothing on this point,
EFFECT OF ALCOHOL.
A REPORT PROMISED.
two Chinese in Hongkong talking to each suggest that this problem also may with important that it should adequately inter- CHINESE BANK WOUND UP. other in "pidgeon English" as a sort advantage be studied by the Faculty of Pret Chinese thoughts and aspirations to of lingua Francu, because one was from Arts in this University. It is a problem the West. (Applause.)
.
The
LIST OF GRADUATES. - Other degrees conferred by H.E. The Chancellor were as follows:-
...
BADLY "HIT BY PRESENT
SITUATION..
Before Sir Henry Gollan, the Chief Justice, in the Supreme Court yesterday morning, Mr. T. Addis made an appli DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND cation for the winding-up of the Kam BACHELOR OF SEEGERY.-Mesers. Lam Wing Bank, Queen's Road Central,.. Shiu Kwong, Lee Boon Choe, Lung Hsing Mr. Addis explained that the appli Kuci, Soo Hay Mun, Teh Yok Chee, Teocation was on behalf of the creditors and The Bank's assets Kab Toh, Tseung Fat Im, Yeo Kok two contributor
DEGREE OF BACHELOS or Cheang, d William Yuen Sze Chung. normally amounted to $2,210,000, and the SCIENCE liabilities to 81,300,000, and the capital" (ENGINEERING)-Messrs. E. B. Ahmed, which was fully paid up was $600,000. Cheng Hsa Ting, Liang Lin Kee, Wu The assets which mostly consisted of Chang Ching, Yue Shui Chin, Yui Zong leneehold land, had depreciated in reglisable value to $1,200,000, There was therefore a deficit of $300,000.
The application was granted.
the north and the other from the south, which must certainly be faced by the and therefore they could not understand Government of Hongkong in connection each other's native speech. For the with the vernacular schools for which we future of China, if it is ever to have are responsible both in the Colony and national unity, few things aro of greater in the Now Territories: and upon its importance than that a speech common solution will depend the future of our to the Eighteen Provinces should be con-system of vernacular education. trived; and that is a matter which may old, time-honoured methots of Chin well engage the attention of that section education have been destroyed with of the Faculty of Arts in this University startling suddenness and no other well which devates itself to the study of the thought-out system as yet taken its place. Chinese chin no longer begin Chinese language and literature.
their schools days by committing to MISTRANSLATION 07 BUDDHIST SUTRAS. ⠀
memory the Sam Taz. King and the Ps'in But the difficulty, which I have just Tsa Man and thereafter the Four Books 'described, is the only one of many which and the Five Classics. The old respect
"eight-legged assay has DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS.-Miss L beset the Chinese language, whether spoken for the or written. The object of human speech vanished and the ancient scheme of Ho Tung, and Messrs. Ban Teong Hoe, is, of course, to give utterance to human examinations for provincial and national A. G. Botelho, Chan Cheuk Wa, Cheang thought; and the various human lang degrees has been abolished. But no Wai Fung, Fung Yiu Shiu, Wong Ching authoritative You, Lam Chei Chiu, Lau Lai Sang, uages differ in merit according as they standard text-books or are capable of expressing each and every curriculum have so far replaced the Leigh Byng, Ma Char Zur, N. V. Nguyen, thought which enters into the mind of methods of bygone days; and here again Doi Khuy Bian, C. A. Peterson, A. F man. Language should also be capable I think that the Faculty of Arts in this Prow, N. H. F. Frew, Fun, Shi Fang of translating accurately the speech and University has before it a wide held for Shu Yu Pong, So Pak Bai, B. M. Talati thoughts of one people into those of most useful work. The problem is no- Teok Khoy Mah. Tong Chun Chung, V. another people. Now it is possible to thing less than the invention of a new F. Viccajee.
(Continued at foot of next Column.) render into English and into several medium of education for several hundred
Chen.
The graduates were individually pre- scuted to the Chancellor, and when I. Ho Tung, the only lady graduate, was presented His Excellency raised his cap and cordially shook hands.
There was a tremendous amount of cracker-firing as the decrees were con ferred.
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