Proceedings of China’s First International Symposium on Ethnic Languages and Culture under “The Belt and Road Initiatives” July 18-21, 2016, Beijing, China The American Scholars Press Editors: Jia Hongwei, Lisa Hale, and Jin Zhang Cover Designer: Wang Jun Published by The American Scholars Press, Inc. The Proceedings of China’s First International Symposium on Ethnic Languages and Culture under “The Belt and Road Initiatives” is published by the American Scholars Press, Inc., Marietta, Georgia, USA. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. Copyright © 2016 by the American Scholars Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-9721479-3-4 Printed in the United States of America 2 Foreword I am very privileged to be invited to attend the China’s 1st International Symposium on Ethnic Languages and Culture under “The Belt and Road Initiatives” held in mid-July 2016 at the Fragrance Hill Hotel in the western suburban area of Beijing, China. The beautiful hotel is surrounded by flourishing trees, various kinds of flowers, and a grander academic extravaganza with internationally known experts’ visits. This symposium attracted more than 150 scholars from all parts of China, and some scholars from abroad. The discussions on Chinese (ethnic) and foreign languages and culture, literature, language teaching, translation, and academic methods were the magnet for their coming together. As an academic platform established by the Beijing Teachers Training Center for Higher Education, and based in Beijing, the capital of China, it serves as an important means to create close ties and a network among scholars in China and abroad. On behalf of the Beijing Teachers Training Center for Higher Education and the Executive Council of China’s 1st International Symposium on Ethnic Languages and Culture under “The Belt and Road Initiatives”, I arranged this symposium for close cooperation among scholars from all nations worldwide. I am very excited to enjoy this opportunity to exchange ideas on language teaching and national history research with Dr. Michael Li from Massey University, New Zealand and Prof. Kerry Taylor, also from Massey University. I am also surprised to find innovative ideas and insights from the works by scholars in the fields of Chinese linguistics, Chinese history of translation practice, and Chinese ethnic studies, etc. In addition, as a translation theories and translation semiotician in China, I am very much impressed by Doulas Robinson’s Pushing-hands and Periperformativity, and Peeter Torop’s Semiotics of Translation. For the long run, academic exchange serves as the sole bridge to cross over the barriers between scholars with various backgrounds, to cut down and even defeat conflicts derived from misunderstandings, and to better the established theories and insights on the cognition of the world and the recognition of ourselves. Thus, it is very necessary to break the barriers between any two subjects, embracing newcomers and building a more harmonious academic atmosphere. Finally, I need to express my gratitude to the staff from the Beijing Teachers Training Center for Higher Education and the Fragrance Hill Hotel for their excellent cooperation in hosting this conference. Thanks also go to Prof. Wang Yuanxin, Chair of the Executive Council of China’s International Symposium on Ethnic Languages and Culture under “The Belt and Road Initiatives”, and to Shu Ning, the Programme Coordinator of the Beijing Teachers Training Center for Higher Education and his team. They all did excellent work and contributed a great deal to the success of this international symposium. Associate Professor Jia Hongwei Chairman of the Executive Council of China’s International Symposium on Ethnic Languages and Cultures under “The Belt and Road Initiatives”, Beijing, China Associate Professor, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China 3 Preface The background of China’s First International Symposium on Ethnic Languages and Culture under “The Belt and Road Initiatives” (CISELC) held at the Fragrance Hill Hotel in July 2016, is the Belt and Road Initiative that Chinese President Xi proposed in 2013. To illustrate the relevance of this background element to domestic and international ethnic language and culture researches, I need to start with what the Belt and Road Initiative is and what it is designed for, and to tell what it will bring to international language and culture researchers. What Is the Belt and Road Initiative? To strive to achieve more regional cooperation and drive domestic development, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiatives during his overseas visits in November 2013. The Silk Road Economic Belt was stated to be established along the ancient Silk Road trade route, stretching northwest from China’s coastal areas through central Asia, the Middle East and on to Europe, while the Maritime Silk Road will run through China’s southern part to Southeast Asia. As a report on Xinhuanet (China Voice: The “Belt and Road” Initiatives brings new opportunities) stated on 29 Jan 2015, under this grand blueprint, more highways, railways and air routes will be established, and Chinese regions will further integrate resources, policies and markets to connect with the outside world. What Is It Designed For? Simply speaking, the Initiative has been designed to enhance the orderly free-flow of economic factors and productive means and the efficient allocation of resources. It is also intended to further market integration and create a regional economic co-operation framework of benefit to all. The Belt and Road Initiative aims to connect Asia, Europe and Africa along five routes. The Silk Road Economic Belt focuses on: (1) linking China to Europe through Central Asia and Russia; (2) connecting China with the Middle East through Central Asia; and (3) bringing together China and Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean. The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, meanwhile, focuses on using Chinese coastal ports to promote economic development; (4) linking China with Europe through the South China Sea and Indian Ocean; and (5) connecting China with the South Pacific Ocean through the South China Sea. Focusing on the above five routes, the Belt and Road Initiatives will take advantage of international transport routes, as well as core cities and key ports to strengthen collaboration and build six international economic cooperation corridors. To safeguard and ensure its smooth operation, the five major goals of policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds are considered necessary elements. However, language communication is the common denominator implied in the five major goals of the Belt and Road Initiatives because language is the carrier of all cultural beings, and the only means to communicate almost all appeals and cooperation. What Will it Bring to International Language and Culture Researchers? The Belt and Road Initiatives is stated to connect 65 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, and these countries reflect about 200 different languages, of which there are 50 official languages, and dozens of cross-border languages. Human speech is regarded as the common means to coordinate policies, to 4 connect facilities, to carry out bi-and multi-lateral trade, to integrate financial resources, and to facilitate people-to-people bonds. To meet all of these demands, apart from the language policy, language use, language preference, and other related issues, we really need to learn, understand and examine the languages, culture and literary works of the 65 related countries. At the same time, we will create speech, design a new language teaching syllabus, build a language data bank, and develop artificial intelligence and language techniques to better serve the Initiatives. To learn, understand and examine the others, to learn their languages and culture is a prerequisite. To promote this enterprise, international academic exchange and interaction is a must. How is it Related to Global Language and Culture Research? To gain discourse in the English context, and to share the development and progress of Chinese scholars in various fields with these countries, the symposium events are playing an important role. The fields that we would like to share include language research and teaching, including Chinese, ethnic Chinese languages, foreign languages, Chinese dialects and cross-border languages, Chinese and ethnic Chinese translation theory and history, Chinese semiotics, Chinese policies for language education and management, Chinese culture going out, translation project of Chinese literary works, and so on. The Council of China’s International Symposium on Ethnic Languages and Cultures Under “The Belt and Road Initiatives” was established by the Beijing Teachers Training Center for Higher Education. This Beijing organization launched this International Symposium as a place where an academic vis-à-vis communication came into view by bringing together scholars from all over China and abroad. The Symposium welcomed ten keynote speakers. Professor Kerry Taylor from Massey University, NZ, talked about the research on the Communist party of New Zealand and how to publish a journal paper in an English journal; Professor Xu Yuanchong from Peking University focused on Creative