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"Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will
never hurt me." So the childish chant goes, and such
is what we learned long ago. The familiar rhyme suggests the
importance we attach to words. As we grew up, we also realized
that there was more to the aphorism. Words are much stronger
than sticks and stones could ever be.
Our lives are made of words. Words that make us fly into furious
anger, love passionately, laugh wildly. We live through language,
perhaps more now in Taiwan than we have ever before, as we
learn the value of words through the loss of words.
The Chinese possess a very special appreciation for the English
language. Like the Chinese characters that appear more as
art than language to our western eyes, our language takes
on a similar foreign appearance for the Chinese.
When English words are coordinated through the writing of
a Chinese native, phrases of "wonder" are often
revealed. "Wonder" in the sense that we are often
left in wonder, but with smiles on our faces. As English becomes
twisted, altered or transfixed from one culture to another,
words and phrases quickly turn into humorous but endearing
forms of advice, gentle words of wisdom that only sometimes
make sense and often leave us laughing warmly.
Chinese pop-culture is saturated with English idioms, quotes
and words of advice. English messages are on book bags, stationary,
wallets, motorcycles. The Chinese get an "A" for
effort. Even if a word or two or more is misplaced, or even
missing, the intentions are rarely lost. Most come in an inspirational,
advice-like, entertaining package for foreigners.
The following is just a taste of the phrases of wonder that
envelop Taiwan's younger generation.
Written in bold print on a notebook: "You are constantly
becoming." That's it. Maybe someone was lazy . Maybe
the writer had particular intentions - an open-ended thought
meant to stimulate the mind. Like the Rorschach blot paintings
created to make the mind wander.
In another store, a musical reference was made on the cover
of a photo album. "Memories light up the corners of my
mind misty water-color memories of the way we were."
Taken from one of Karen Carpenter's classics, the only thing
wrong is the punctuation. One comma or period can do wonders
to a sentence.
Cards of encouragement are extremely common for the Chinese.
They motivate, comfort, reassure, anything to lift the spirit.
One card contained a picture of a chubby kid flying through
the sky screaming, "Here comes luck for you!" I
said this to two friends and they simultaneously broke into
an edited Christmas tune, replacing Santa Claus with the above
mentioned phrase - "Here comes luck for you, right down
luck for you lane." The musical inference was non-intentional,
of course.
The next card that followed was along a similar theme. "Today
I choose myself well and whole." With self-help books
on shelves everywhere, this phrase concurs with the popular
"empowered" theme. Remember this while travelling
the streets of Taichung.
And where there is room to educate, the Chinese take full
advantage. Written on top of a notebook in Gothic-style writing
was - "The Gothic Style Flourished Between the 13th and
17th centuries in Great Britain when people cared about appearances."
To suggest that people in the nineties don't care about appearance,
style, personal hygiene.
Finally, love. The most popular theme of them all. Written
around a picture frame: "Love is not important is capable
of perhaps the we are of eternity." Verbatim. But this
saying has potential to work. Try it in a variety of dramatic
pitches and it doesn't sound so bad.
That's just a small round up from this end. There are thousands
of others. Compile them, send them to family, friends or any
fan of the English language. Hang them from your walls and
laugh at them everyday.
And remember to "Let your Fine Taste lead you into the
world of marvellous." Nouns, adverbs, adjectives, verbs
- they're all the same anyway.
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