On Laotsu’s “Ming and Yan” and the Language in English

Xin Xiong

Abstract


Just like we couldn’t figure out the order of egg and chicken philosophically, the sequence of the thinking and language also can’t be distinguished. They are in the state of mutual interdependence. It can be affirmed that without thinking, there would exist no language, and vice versa. Thinking is the nature of language, while the language is the expression of thinking. The way of thinking in Laotsu’s “Ming and Yan” is dialectical thinking, and its language expression is implicit and euphemistic, while in Western Language it is logical thinking with the brief and clear expression. If we only pay attention to the expression of language, not to its essential thinking, it’s really difficult to find where the true content of the expression. This thesis will try to discuss the innerlink of Laotsu’s dialectical thinking “Ming and Yan” and western logical language.

 


Keywords


Laotsu’s “Ming and Yan”, western language, language expression, mode of thinking

Full Text:

PDF

References


Cai Zhensheng, L. (2005). Natural Inactional Dialectical Ideology. Lanzhou Academic Journal.

Ding, J. (2009). Grammar, Thinking and Recognition. Foreign Languages and Their Teaching.

Guo, S. (2010). Reverence and Wisdom: Tao Te Ching’s Inspires. Philosophical Researches.

Huang, Y. (1998). Facsimile of Laotsu—Tao Te Ching’s Modern Annotation, Modern Translation and Modern Explanation [M]. Fuzhou(China): Haizhou Culture Press.

He, B. (2008). The Development of Western Linguistic Philosophy. Journal of Zhongzhou University.

Lian, S. (2002). On the Chinese and western Thinking Modes. Foreign Languages and Their Teaching.

Lian, S. (2006). On the Chinese and western Thinking Modes: Wuxing and Rationality. Foreign Languages and Their Teaching.

Liu, R. (2010). Laotsu’s Ideological Contradiction [EB/OL]. (2008-10-13). http://www.guoxue.com.

Reflection of the Different English and Chinese Thinking Modes on the Linguistic Expression [2011-02-17]. http://www.lunwenfb.com.

S.J., T. (2005). “Being Natural,” the Good Human Being, and the Goodness of Acting Naturally in the Laozi and the Nicomachean Ethics[J]. Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy.

Waley, A. (1998). Tao Te Ching[M]. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

Wen, L., & Kepvin, P.H. (2008). A Study on the Application of Laozi's Thoughts on Educational Leadership and Management[J]. Asia Pacific Education Review.

Wang, Zh. (2010). Dao and the Spontaneousness of Things: A Study on the Meaning of Laozi’s “Dao Emulates What Is Spontaneously So". Philosophical Researches.

Yang, G. (2009) .Analytic Philosophy and Chinese Philosophy. History of Chinese Philosophy.

Yang, W. (2009). Fuzziness of the version of Lao Tsu and "blank-retaining" approach in translation. Journal of Central South University.

Zhou, Y. (2006). The Essence and Presentation of Language. Shandong Social Science.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/ijalel.v.1n.5p.35

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.




Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2012-2023 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD

International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature

To make sure that you can receive messages from us, please add the journal emails into your e-mail 'safe list'. If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox', check your 'bulk mail' or 'junk mail' folders.