Fictional Dictionaries : Power and Philosophy of Language in Contemporary Chinese Fiction
(2017) In Modern Chinese Literature and Culture 29(2). p.66-108- Abstract
- This essay compares Han Shaogong’s A Dictionary of Maqiao, Yu Hua’s China in Ten Words, and Xiaolu Guo’s A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers from the perspective of philosophy of language. Drawing on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s concept of language games, Zhuangzi’s therapeutic skepticism and J. L. Austin’s theory of speech acts, the essay includes analyses of propaganda as linguistic magic, relexicalization as subversive activism, and human relationships as acts of translation. It argues that the dictionary format is used experimentally to probe and tickle the prejudices and preconceived ideas that dwell in language, as well as to create an explicit awareness of language as a historically conditioned and culturally varying human... (More)
- This essay compares Han Shaogong’s A Dictionary of Maqiao, Yu Hua’s China in Ten Words, and Xiaolu Guo’s A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers from the perspective of philosophy of language. Drawing on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s concept of language games, Zhuangzi’s therapeutic skepticism and J. L. Austin’s theory of speech acts, the essay includes analyses of propaganda as linguistic magic, relexicalization as subversive activism, and human relationships as acts of translation. It argues that the dictionary format is used experimentally to probe and tickle the prejudices and preconceived ideas that dwell in language, as well as to create an explicit awareness of language as a historically conditioned and culturally varying human construct. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3a9b486a-1f39-490b-af11-54977b05fac6
- author
- Møller-Olsen, Astrid LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2017-12-18
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Chinese fiction, philosophy of language, Sprachspiel, Zhuangzi, performatives, Austen, Wittgenstein, postmodern fiction, translation studies, translingual fiction, literary lexicography
- in
- Modern Chinese Literature and Culture
- volume
- 29
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 66 - 108
- publisher
- East Asian Studies Center, Ohio State University
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85044005244
- ISSN
- 1520-9857
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3a9b486a-1f39-490b-af11-54977b05fac6
- date added to LUP
- 2017-12-20 12:32:38
- date last changed
- 2023-11-17 09:17:03
@article{3a9b486a-1f39-490b-af11-54977b05fac6,
abstract = {{This essay compares Han Shaogong’s A Dictionary of Maqiao, Yu Hua’s China in Ten Words, and Xiaolu Guo’s A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers from the perspective of philosophy of language. Drawing on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s concept of language games, Zhuangzi’s therapeutic skepticism and J. L. Austin’s theory of speech acts, the essay includes analyses of propaganda as linguistic magic, relexicalization as subversive activism, and human relationships as acts of translation. It argues that the dictionary format is used experimentally to probe and tickle the prejudices and preconceived ideas that dwell in language, as well as to create an explicit awareness of language as a historically conditioned and culturally varying human construct.}},
author = {{Møller-Olsen, Astrid}},
issn = {{1520-9857}},
keywords = {{Chinese fiction; philosophy of language; Sprachspiel; Zhuangzi; performatives; Austen; Wittgenstein; postmodern fiction; translation studies; translingual fiction; literary lexicography}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{66--108}},
publisher = {{East Asian Studies Center, Ohio State University}},
series = {{Modern Chinese Literature and Culture}},
title = {{Fictional Dictionaries : Power and Philosophy of Language in Contemporary Chinese Fiction}},
volume = {{29}},
year = {{2017}},
}