1926-01-13 — Page 8

AN

DEGREE DAY AT UNIVERSITY.

LANGUAGE.

ACADEMIC DISCOURSE.

their

is an ornament to the University

The New Chancellor, and whose kindly sympathy and The Vice-Chancellor, having de génerous understanding will be, to clared the congregation open, the us who work here, an abiding con- senior honorary graduate, Dr. T.solation and encouragement. W. Pearce, U.B.E., LL.D., ap- proached and said: I have the honour to present Sir Ceal Clementi, K.C., as worny o the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

**

The Vice-Chancellor said: Sir Cecil Clementi, by virtue of the in me I confer authority vested. upon you, the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris cuust. (Applause).

The Vice-Chancellor then accom- panied His Excellency from the

re-appearance,

Vice-Chancellor's Speech.

Sir Edward Stubbs. -

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

visit of H.R.H. the

hours of

Ever a Friend.

Was

Mr. Ponsonby Fane.

con-

and

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1926.

':

mona-

Hoklon and Hakkaa.

The inconvenience of this fact

I

Hoever.

The ese

"

The Buddhist Sutras.

Let me take first the case of al

Chinese, mistranslation

18 very

ji

script form an excellent

which thoughts

|[latöd His Excellency's Lutin story of certain emperors or ex will be my constant aim to promote

baffled Chinese translator had, in University anthem into Chizese emperors who were exiled. Ho the academic Interests which are

ducing the sound, and not the fact, contented himself with repro- verses of such erudition that has written about the ancient thus committed to my care and, It is said that no one cu Hi Capitals and Palaces of Japan with your permission, I propose can be readily experienced by any sense, of the Sanskrit words. Excellency can understand them and about the capital Heian and to-day in my inaugural address to one who moves among the Chinese From Ancient to Modern. (Laughter).

its great palace. He has trans-present for your consideration cer- population of Hongkong. Most Now I venture to think that, if A lover of books, Mr. Katewalllated two exceeding interest-tain ideas which I trust may be people here speak Cantonese, but we pass from ancient to modern HIS EXCELLENCY ON THE CHINESE has a fine library of Chinese and ing Japanese books, one Kokoro helpful to that section of the the chair-coolies are generally times, the dificulties met by the Engilah authors. He has written, No Chikari or the Strength of the Faculty of Arts in this University Hokios, the villagers are often Chinese translators of the Sans- on "Forestry" and "Government" Soul; the other Satorikata No Zu which concerns itself with things Hakkas, and many of the Chinese krit sutras will be felt in an even and is the author of two Chinese or the Path of Knowledge. Mr. Chinese.

police are from Shantung and speak greater degree by anyone who to- plays, one of which was perform-Ponsonby Fune has been a friend od on the occasion of the recent to the University in many ways speech was arst becoming articu- have myself heard two Chinese in Heget's Logic or the writings of

In the remote age, when human the dialect of that province,

day, attempts to translato, say, Prince of that few know of and we welcome late, two inventions of far-reach- Hongkong talking to each other in Einstein into Chinese. But it may Wales. Now a director of com-him with acclamation as one ing importance were made by wide- "pidgeon English" as a sort of justly be said that these works panies and a harrassed man of whose work in this University, ly sundered, races of mankind. The lingua Franca, because one was are so abstruse that they present The seventeenth congregation, of | Kowloon and thereafter publish business (most business men ap has been one long labour of love.progenitors of the Indo-European from the north and the other from great difficulties in respect of trans- the University of Hongkong for ed a summary of the geographical pour to be, harrussed 'now-a-days; (Applause).

therefore theylation into any language what the conferring of degrees was held observations recorded during the I can't think why.

race, living as seems probable in the south, and If they have Your Excellency, I have said that the steppe country east of Europe could not understand each other's in 'the Great Hall yesterday after-Journey lie has also published nothing to do, why not do it grace-the day of your coming back to and north of India, evolved, a mode native speech. noon. The occasion was notably book on the Chinese in British fully?) Mr. Kolewall somehow Hongkong was to us who work in of speech which was inflexional and

Take, therefore, instead, such For the future of China, If it in writings as the simplest text book marked by the conferring of four Guianu,

And time not only to serve the the University, the dawn of a poly-gyllabice, while the progenitors ever to have national unity, few of English grammar, or of modern honorary degrees, one being upon

To return from this digression, publle with a devotion which is brighter era. This is not a mere of the Chinese race, who appear to things are of greater importance geography, history or science: how His Excellency Sir Cecil Clementi, when the offer came to him in literally amazing but also to at-platitude, but a conviction which have inhabited the Yellow River than that a speech common to the are they to be translated into who afterwards took his seat as 1916, our Chancellor was then attend to the troubles of his friends. 1s shared by all. (Applause)-basin, created & language which Eighteen Provinces should be con- non-alphabetical script? Or coll- Chancellor. The other gentlemen ministering the Government, of And I doubt whether there is any The world is passing through upon whom the honorary degree of ritish Guiana. He wrote accept one in the Colony, who has more period of distress and this Colony was non-inflexional and mono- trived; and this is a matter which sider the case of arithmetic,

Byllabic. At a much later date, may well engage the attention of gebra or trigonometry; is it not Doctor of Lawt was conferred were ing, and expressing the hope that friends than Mr. Kotowall, (Apis beating up against a strong probably not earlier than the first that section of the Faculty of Arts clear that

no works on Sir Edward Stubbs, K.C.M.G., the he would some day come back to plause).

head wind of unexpected and unmillennium before Christ, alpha-in this University which devotes subjects can be translated

Buch merited misfortune. We do not

iz Hon. Mr. R. H. Kotewall and Mr. Hongkong to receive the honour at

Chinese without adopting R. Ponsonby Fane.

the University's hands. That day

want to be a nuisance, to be al- betic scripts of various kinds were itself to the study of the Chinese to

the whole system of humerical and, Frevious to the congregation, teu has come. (Applause). To us in To all of us in the University,ways crying poverty and clamour Invented or adapted for the use language and literature.

But the difficulty, which I have mathematical notation Invent- was served in the University Union, the University in spite of the dark whether teachers or students, Ming for more money. But surely of the Indo-European language in The Great Hall was pucked for the mess which enfolds us, it is the Kotewall has ever been a friend, the present is not the moment for different parts of the world. Such ist described, is only one of many ed in the west? The fact is that ceremony which followed and the dawn of a brighter era. We tal who has never failed ug in the curtailing educational work inure the naguri script for Sanskrit, which beset the Chinese language. the Chinese language and the Chin gallery, as usual, was overcrowded come you; Your Excellency, rou

nur respective needs. Hongkong. It was the commercial the cuneiform script for Persian whether spoken or written. with undergraduates and only as our Chancellor but as one And all this has been done, and community of Hongkong which and the Phoenician script for object of hunt speech is, of medium for the study of things.

af vur graduales whose scholarship. Jone without ostentation, in the There can be no doubt," wrote Arabic method of writing numerals thought; and the various, human syllables and Chinese, ideograms brought,this University into being. Greek and Latin. Later still the course, to give utterance to human Chinese, but that Chinese mono- friends:

midst of domestic anxieties before the then senior partner of John was adopted through Europe.

languages differ in merit accordare a kind of linguistic bed of which the most public-spirited of Swire and Son to. Sir Frederick

ing as they are capable of express- Pocrustes, into Meanwhile in China the Inven- men might reasonably have sue- umbed. In welcoming Me. Kote-Lugard, "about the merits of yourtion of a non-inflexional monosyl-in each and every thought which and words that are alien to the enters into the mind of mun. Chinese can only be forced by wall into the goudly fellowship of scheme, which strongly appeals to tabic language, in which

Language should also be cup such honorary graduates, I cannot re./my partners and myself and to syllables of the same sound are able of translating accurately the changings as to render them 'un- drastic choppings and which we contributed, believing further differentiated from each speech and thoughts of one people recognizable. frain from quoting what Dr. John- that a University in Hongkong will other, by intonation, was followed into those of unether people. Now, inasmuch as no true edu Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs and son wrote of his friend, Henry be to the advantage of the Colony by the equally remarkable inven- Now it is possible to render into cational advanec in China can be were schooled under the same Thrale, the brewer;

tad our Empire." "Your scheme." tion of an ideographic script. This English and into ferrule and in those days the scrip-

"Simple, open, and uniform in

several other made without an assimilation of ual maxim about the calamitounis munners, his conduct was wrote Sir Robert Hart, "is excel-script was entirely without an languages with very reasonable western knowledge, if follows results of sparing the rud were ar without either art or affectation ent and deserves the fullest aup-alubahot and it was in origin a accuracy anything that the Chin-either that the Chinese spokal wa

be interpreted more literali, In the senate, steadily attentive to port, and it promises much that pictorial system, which

made ese people write or say; but from written language must be modified the interests of his king and coun-

will do real good."

appeal to the eye and not to the early times the Chinese themselves by the addition to it of an alpha- than they are now.

"Is it true," an agitated,mother try, he looked down with

ear. By degrees, however, all have experienced much diffealty Sir Frederick Lugard's Words. rote, in those brutal days, "thuempt on the clamours of the mul-

ideograms were aplit up in some in translating the works of other et in a manner similar to that in Standing on this very platform cases very arbitrarily into two peoples into their own language.ments the Japanese Ideograms; or which the Japanese Kana suppic- pital punishment is still in vogur titude; though engaged in very

"Dear madam,' Tonbridge?"

extensive business, he

on the 11th March, 1912, Sir component parts, namely a radical found

Frederick Lugard dared to say: element which, appeals to the eye

else that the Chinese people must Great Hall und immediately return. Dr. Wood, the Headmaster replied, some time to apply to polite literaWhen the petty questions which and indicates the general 'meaning

become bilingual and teach their ed with him in the robes of the "I regret to say that capital punish ture; and

ever ready to

children some alphabetic foreign Chancellor, crackers greeting himent is not in vogue at Tonbridge: assist his friends' labouring under necessarily occupy our time and of the word, and a phonetic element famous

language in addition to their The punishment is purely cor- any difficulties, with his advice, thoughts in the busy curriculum which suggests the sound of the from the Buddhist Sutras. In

mother tongue. porti." (Laughter).

his influence, and his purse. To of the day's work are swept into word. A good example is the the Sanskrit version of these Our late Governor won, every is friends, acquaintances,

Vernacular School Problem. oblivion, when new objects of in- ideogram ax, which means "a song," atitras, from which the Chinese terest rise for a new generation, and in which the radical element translated, Buddha such The honorary graduates were scholarship and prize which Radle guests, he behaved with

A decision between these al- then presented by the Vice-Chan could offer and passed on to Ox- sweetness of manners as to attach this building shall stand for its depicts a mouth speaking, while the frequently called avalokitesvara ternatives will have very far-reach cellor who, in so doing said:

ord as an Exhibitioner of Corpus them all to his person: so happy purpose, has a boundless horizon rest of the ideogram (if written This is a compound word and it ing effects upon the future of Your Excellency, Ladies and Gen-Christi College, He won a first in his conversation with them as and it is founded on motives and without the radical prefix) would may be analysed as follows: Are China and I suggest that this pro- tlemen, let me firet uxp.. way at class in the honours school op please all, though he flattered principles which neither pass nor still be pronounced au and is is a preposition and means "over": blem also may, with advantage, be

die." (Applause). the opening of these rites a depar Classical Moderations and a first none:"

a picture of three mouths grouped lokito means "over-looking," 'Now studied by the Faculty of Arts, in We stand before the public to- together.

there is in Sanskrit set of this University. It is a problem ture was made from the usual cere class in the final school of Literae

day asking them to weigh our monial. Why we put strange garifumaniores, He went into the

Advantage of Picture Writing, phonetic laws, called Sondhi, gov- which must' certainly be faced by inen Colonial Office in 1900 and rese

Mr. Richard Ponsonby Fane is merits, but to pardon our defects. upon our, Chancellor, and

which the Government of Hongkong in Now the obvious advantage of crning. the hurried him away

to take it on rapidly. In 1918 he went to Cry well known in Hongkong. (Apf you can't give us money, we will ricture writing as distinct from vowels and consonants are com- connection with the exrnacular again and why the Vice-Chancellor on as Colonial Secretary and in plause). He has served the Co-carry on cheerfully, making the alphabetic script is that the picture bined; and one of these laws pre-schools for which we are respon emerging from no academic secla- 1919 he came here as Governor any, may the Empire, in several best of the little that we have, but at once suggests the meaning of a scribes that, when the vowels a sible bath in the Colony and in the sion in which it is his desire always Of Sir Edward, Stubbs career as ways, but always in a

lution will depend the future.of to live, performed for a tew crowd-overnor of Hongkong I need no self-sacrificing devotion, which is sympathy and co-operation. (Ap-word, but the alphabet does not, and i meet, they merge into the New Territories, and upon its 80-

at once, evidence of his sense of Plause). Not many years ago, a On the other hand the equally vowel sound e ed minates of his inglorious epeak, but as one who knew himrvice still animating his dis.writer in the November number writing, is that the idea conveyed resolving the letter e in avalokition.

Bearing this law in mind and our system of vernacular educa- obvious disadvantage of picture exalted fanctions which ordinarily from his boyhood I cannot refrain

of the 19th Century, observed, a

tecvara into its component parts, cinguished family and of that

The old, time-honoured inethods appertain to an office which be- from saying, that the amazing

cynic wrote with

by the ideogram can be spoken in Bome truth: longs by right to the highest in quickness and tenacity of his in juiet and all-pervading picty The English middle classes have multitude of ways, whereas a/we find that the taller half of the of Chinese education have been

which is so vital an influence in the land. Ur Chancellor is a man ellectual grasp which were m

ais life.

never believed in education; they word written alphabetically has, sub-pound is the word ferare, destroyed with a startling sudden- meaning "sovereign." The whole ness and no other well thought- of great mental and bodily activity,avy and despair while we were aman, moreover, of many parts, 4t school together, continued to d at Harrow,

Mr. Ponsonby Fane was educat-send their sons to public schools Ject of course to different nuancer compound, therefore, is a descrip-out system has yet taken its place. but had to leave to be inoculated against it". The of pronunciation among different tion of Buddha as the sovereign Chinese children no longer begin albeit assentinily self-contained, excite my wonder and admiration school young owing to indifferent War destroyed this unbelief. A peoples, only one sound. If I point who overlooks mankind from their school days by committing to teres atque rotundus, yet even he during the 20 months that I work health. When he was only 17 he then the conviction has grown, child to tell me what it is, the tors knew nothing of sandhi, and and the Ts'in Tsz Man and there-

change began in 1916 and since to a picture of a man and ask above. But the Chinese transla-memory shrank from the acrobatic feat old with him as Chancellor of thecame private secretary to

Jovernor of Natal, and he has that it is the duty of the age to Baglish child will say "man, the they also failed to take note of the after the Four Books and the Five A Faithful Chancellor.

furnish its youth with its best, French child "homme" and the fact that there are in Sanskrit Classico. since served four other governory

But if three sibilants, which western In the hour of its direst need in the same capacity, including Sir and that best is believed to be a Cantonese child "yan."

The old" respect for the "eight- prospect of so daring performance Sir Edward Stubbs saved this Matthew Nathan and Sir Henry liberal education. All schools write alphabetically the word scholars transliterate S, C and legged essay" has vanished and the came about in this wise. In 1916 University; and in eonferring on May He has ministered to His and universities are filled as never "magnanimity" English, French Sh

respectively.. Accordingly ancient scheme of examination for the University of Hongkong decided aim the doctorate of the Univer-ajesty's representatives in Hong before. Rich parents anxiously and Cantonese children, provided they analysed the compound provincial and national degrees to confer an honorary degree onsity, we are enrolling in our recong, Natal, Trinidad, Ceylon and

besiege house-masters' doors, they can spell, will all give it much avalokitesvara into two component has been abolished. But no Mr. Cecil Clementi, as he then was. cords not merely a faithful Chan Fiji, and at least five years of his while no less enger parents from the same sound. Now this fact parts, auclokita and avara, which standard text-books or authorita- Mr. Clementi had done great ser cellor and a distinguished Governor, ife have been spent in roving over less wealthy homes clamour for has been an important historical they translated as "overlooking" tive curriculum have so far replac vice to the University in the critical out a great intellect. (Applause) the sens mainly in search of Gov- the admission of their children result in China, for it is the reason (kun) and "sound" (yam). Ofed the methods of bygone days; days of its infancy; and he himself understand that Sir Edward errors (laughter), always a pie-into the municipal secondary why the Chinese spoken language course, the phrase "Overlooking and here again. I think that the is and was a distinguished scholar. Stubby published works do not ex-turesque figure (laughter) with schools. Nor is it hard to find changes from province to province, Sound" makes nonsense; but never Faculty of Arts in this Univer- Educated at St. Paul's School, tend beyond the first volume of the same brown comforter about reason for this now belief in edu- although the written language is theless, the words Kun-yam or in sity has before it, a wide London, and passing in due course Lucas' Historical Geography, which his neck. (Laughter).

cation. Force has failed, and the the same throughout the length Pekingese Kuan-yin and in Japanese field for most useful work, to Oxford as Demy of Magdalen he edited. But I have heard that

failure of force is education's and breadth, of the land. During the War, when Sir Henry

Kwanton have now a very wide The problem is nothing less than College, our Chancellor took a first he recorded from time to time in May was Governor, this Univer-pportunity. (Applause). :

Let me take, for instance, a vogne and form the name of a the invention of a new medium of. class in the honours school of the files of the Hongkong Govern-sity was in difficulty owing to Cracker Displays.

Chinese word, which has been much-worshipped goddess in the education. for several hundred " Classical Moderations and the ment, utterances worthy of remem-teachers not being available, Mr.

adopted into the English language Buddhist pantheon."

million human beings, and its im- ^- Boden Sanskrit Scholarship. (Ap-brance, if impossible of publica-Ponsonby Fane then came for His Excellency in conferred the and which is constantly on our May I, however, explain to your portance for the future of man- plause). He was honourably men- tion. (Laughter).

ward to help the University and honorary degrees and also the de- lips,

"tea." The the reason why I have gone into kind cannot be exaggerated.: tioned for the Hertford. Craven

ever since 1910 he has given him- grees upon the graduates present- ideogram for this word is pro-such detail concerning this mis I wish to guard myself carefully. Mr. Kolewall. and Ireland Scholarships and "

self unsparingly, in devoted and ed by the Deans of the Faculty of nounced ch'a both by the Cantonese translation? It is because I defy against any suggestion that the proached very nearly," us the Latin was educated at Queen's College of this University. (Applause).ing and the

Mr. Robert Hormus Kotewall gratuitous service to the students Medicine, the Faculty of Engineer and the Pekingese and thence any Chinese scholar, be he a hon-remarks which I have made are phraac had it, to the winning of and Diocesan Boys' School, Hong- He has taught them; he has play. Special applause greeted Miss Irene because the Russians got their tea late what I have just said into the Chinese language and litera- Faculty of Arts.comes the Russian chai, doubtless lam or even a chong-yun, to trans- intended as a disparagement of

kong.. He entered Government ed cricket with them; and in the Ho Tung, the only lady graduate from the Chinese of the north. Chinese. The Chinese language le ture. Nothing is further from my Wien jou. Chine the was a lien in 1906 after winning annals of the University Cricket and the second since the University But the same ideogram in Fulden such that these thoughts cannot be thoughts... I have devoted many Arst plate in a competitive Club bis name is and will ever opened, who received the degree of is pronounced ti; and, as British expressed in it and that Chinese years of my life to a study of examination. As a civil servant be of a scholar there, but Oxford's he was given posts which were al-plause). For

household world. (Ap-Bachelor of Arts.

traders first brought ten to England words for much of what I bave Chinese and my study has left The ceremony

was constantly from the Fukien province, it was just said do not exist. The Chin-me with a profound admiration plause). Nordkonga dhaned ways before and have ever since Ponsonby Pane has made Japan Interrupted by crucker displays in natural that they should bring with ese translators of the Buddhint of Chinese literature and especial-

Nor has our Chancello. been held by Britishers, Chief his summer residence, only oc- the gallery. Bince he came among us as a cude. Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's casionally visiting his beautiful

them its Fuklenese name and sutras felt this difficulty them-ly of Chinese poetry. But the allowed his muse to die of depart-Offee; First Clerk in the Magis family seat

selves, hence the English word "tea.".

Chinese language has in a very mentalism--that awful condition tracy (a post usually held by men Mr. Ponsonby Fane is always em- in Somersetshire.

Now it is evident that two There was a time in the earlier real sense "the defect of its which a distinguished Viceroy of of legal training) and offelating phatic that he is

His Excellency the Chanceller, Chinese, who wish to talk about period of my service in Hongkong qualities." Its best quality is India, in a moment of more the Justice of the Peace, Mr. Kote-though if genius be an infinite continued applause, said:

no scholar, who was received with loud and tea, will not easily understand each when I amused myself by making the concise, lucid and picturesque- usual expansion, diagnosed as re-wall's exploits in the soul-destroy-capacity for taking pains, few

other If, while one speaks of the detalled comparison between manner in which it portrays Chin- sulting not so much from "morning pursuit of budget preparation would have greater claim to the opportunities which are now given ch'a: and this is only one instance their Chinese translations.

I value very highly the added beverage as ti, the other calls it some of the Sangkit sutras and ess life and thought.

Its cor delinquency" us from "mental

All responding defect is that, possibly were such as to attract the atten- title than he has. hiatus."

to the Governor of Hongkong for of the strangely different sounds that I then did want to the bottom because it forms so excellent a assisting in the educational pro-given by Chiness in different pro-f Hongkong harbour with several medium for the study of things A Chinese Scholar,

His Publications.

gress of the Colony by reason of vinces to the same ideogram in ather manuscripts in the typhoon Chinese, It is a very refractory Sir Cecil Clementi Is now afhas always taken a great interest) At any rate Mr. Ponsonby Fune the fact that he is ex-officio Chan- very great number of cases. Con-of-1906; but I well remember that medium for the interpretation of Chinese scholar of substantial rein education, especially vernacular has published many interesting cellor of the Hongkong University.sequently, whereas the written time and again, as I read the western Ideas. It forms Indeed pute and, besides writing the education. He is a member of the and valuable contributions to must also thank you most sincero-language has been a bond of union Chinese version, I came upon pas which anything that is not Chinese. a sort of Forbidden City into University anthem In Latin verse, Court and Council of the Univer-Western knowledge of things y for the welcome you have given between the Eighteen Provinces, sages which seemed entirely mean- can enter only in disguise, if at he has published "Cantonese Love sity, and University honorary Japanese. He has published me on the occasion of this, my first, the spoken language divides various ingless until I turned to the Sansall, The problem for solution in Songs" (Laughter and applause examiner in Chinese, predent of treatise of the Imperial Family of ceremonial visit to the University sections of the Chinese race quite krit original, when I found that how beat the gates of this For from the gallery) and the "Pir- the University Football Club and Japan, a treatise entitled Misneaki as its Chancellor and for the as much as differing languages the Chinese text was at these points bidden City may be thrown open, vigilum Veneris." His Excellency a Patron of a Roving Troop of Boy or the Imperial Tombs, a treatli honorary degree which the Univer-divide the several nations of not a translation, but 6 trans once travelled · from Kashgar to Scouts. (Applause). Ho trans-Jontitled Haitei Monogatari or the laity has conferred upon me. It Europe,

literation from the Sanskrit. The (Continuci on Page 9.)

conferring a degree upon himself. (Laughter). That His Excellency

was ever faced with the dreadful

the Galsford Greek Prose prize. I

when ur was tempte

to stay in Oxford and live the lif

University.

tion of H. Mi's Secretary of State for the Colonics. Mr. Katewall

spirit of

some years

the

we do. claim as

a right your

The Governor's Speech.

the word

manner in

J

the Sam Tze King