One just can't do both. Working your way up towards the tag "scholar" is always THE safer way.
Yet by nature, I'd rather take my time and get myself completely absorbed
in the business of "reading", analyze the literature, and don't give a fiddler's fart
what style it is in as long as it gives me a wonderful experience that could just not be found in academia.
You can be a great scholar that doesn't know shit, or that only knows shit.
So, I may as well stay the way I am, a low-level scholar,
that is learning something concrete.
Why? I might have stayed at school for 20 years,
yet the education I had received before moving on to literature is a joke.
My belief is, literature gives one the best place to examine your conscience,
as well as THE place to think about some real-life philosophy,
which should include no more than the PROPER way of LIVING itself.
About Me
Monday, September 29, 2008
同步發行－－Dracula
Not excellent in terms of skills and use of language, and kind of too religious-oriented to me. The author kind of overdid the sermons (by Dr. Van Helsing). It is as if I'm in a Catholics church, that I have to say a Hail Mary. Amen.
The characters here can only be described as gaily, with no other notable human traits at all, and live as though they are already in the heaven. The plot could have been more creative, and it's kind of too plain and simple for a novel of this length..
With all being said, the story is very easy to read.. Indeed, up to now, it is the longest English novel that I manage to finish. It is excellent for pure leisure reading, as it won't even leave you the slightest bit of confusion.
But why do I still finish it?? Because, taking the skill sets away, the story is still attractive. The plainness of the characters are deliberate for such a novel.
The first half is a better horror novel than the later half. At first, it is truly a page-turner. But as the story reveals, the horror disappears, and it becomes the old Catholics story of courage and faith.
The characters here can only be described as gaily, with no other notable human traits at all, and live as though they are already in the heaven. The plot could have been more creative, and it's kind of too plain and simple for a novel of this length..
With all being said, the story is very easy to read.. Indeed, up to now, it is the longest English novel that I manage to finish. It is excellent for pure leisure reading, as it won't even leave you the slightest bit of confusion.
But why do I still finish it?? Because, taking the skill sets away, the story is still attractive. The plainness of the characters are deliberate for such a novel.
The first half is a better horror novel than the later half. At first, it is truly a page-turner. But as the story reveals, the horror disappears, and it becomes the old Catholics story of courage and faith.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
I discover a writer!
He is Ken Kesey (1935 - 2001). He wrote a book called "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest".
It's about a duel between a nurse and a mental patient in the ward.
It has to be good because Signet's Classics never pick bad books.
The writer had already passed away, so I probably won't be as moved this time.
But he did write like my main man! haha! Not in style but in tone~~
Witty and with full of sophisticated everyday details~~
I've also bought Melville's Moby-Dick (無比敵 or 白鯨記) and Dostoyevsky's The Idiot~~
both 19th century novels.
主角梅什金公爵（Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin）是作家杜氏理想的一個基督式的人物，純潔、善良、坦率，充滿悲天憫人的胸懷。靠富商帕夫列謝夫的接濟，主角前往瑞士治療癲癇症，他到葉潘欽（Yepantchin）將軍家，被心胸狹隘的加尼亞罵：“真是個白癡！”他不斷寬容了加尼亞、羅戈任（Rogozhin）等人，加尼亞在懺悔後，依舊想要強娶納斯塔霞·菲裏波芙娜（Nastasya Filippovna）。羅戈任也始終把納斯塔霞看作己物，最後殺死她。梅什金公爵因他的同情和憐憫，同時毀了兩個女性，納斯塔霞嫁給羅戈任，幾次逃家，最後落得毀滅的悲慘結局，阿格拉婭（Aglaya）最後絕望，皈依天主教。梅什金公爵最后变成白痴，因為他發現基督的愛對於這個世界毫無作用。
原來係哩個 topic.. 但係.. Dostoyevsky 真係幾好睇.. 有品質保證..
It's about a duel between a nurse and a mental patient in the ward.
It has to be good because Signet's Classics never pick bad books.
The writer had already passed away, so I probably won't be as moved this time.
But he did write like my main man! haha! Not in style but in tone~~
Witty and with full of sophisticated everyday details~~
I've also bought Melville's Moby-Dick (無比敵 or 白鯨記) and Dostoyevsky's The Idiot~~
both 19th century novels.
主角梅什金公爵（Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin）是作家杜氏理想的一個基督式的人物，純潔、善良、坦率，充滿悲天憫人的胸懷。靠富商帕夫列謝夫的接濟，主角前往瑞士治療癲癇症，他到葉潘欽（Yepantchin）將軍家，被心胸狹隘的加尼亞罵：“真是個白癡！”他不斷寬容了加尼亞、羅戈任（Rogozhin）等人，加尼亞在懺悔後，依舊想要強娶納斯塔霞·菲裏波芙娜（Nastasya Filippovna）。羅戈任也始終把納斯塔霞看作己物，最後殺死她。梅什金公爵因他的同情和憐憫，同時毀了兩個女性，納斯塔霞嫁給羅戈任，幾次逃家，最後落得毀滅的悲慘結局，阿格拉婭（Aglaya）最後絕望，皈依天主教。梅什金公爵最后变成白痴，因為他發現基督的愛對於這個世界毫無作用。
原來係哩個 topic.. 但係.. Dostoyevsky 真係幾好睇.. 有品質保證..
A casual piece of writing
It's strange to notice how easily do I admire people,
not because they are particularly good in one aspect,
but just that they know what their dreams are good for,
and try their damn best to achieve them for their own "salvation".
I could use some doggedness and toughness too.
I had really been tough for quite a while,
but it is the past tense that I am using.
So, can you just somehow, regain that, assuredly??
=====
I will regard the painful modification of my thesis as a proofreading exercise.
Dr. Leung is right in saying that it is not as logically planned as one would like,
but he has contributed to such absence of logic.
He simply forced me to change my initial logic,
and it just lost the logical coherence from then on.
Luckily, thanks to the quiet environment of CUHK,
I think I know what it takes now.
The damnest thing in life?? One just can't seem enough with logic.
How much I hate it!!
I do believe, our brain is so sophisticated that
we know something is right or wrong without any concrete proof.
A poor example here: 十個光頭九個富,
it looks so real that you have to believe that.
not because they are particularly good in one aspect,
but just that they know what their dreams are good for,
and try their damn best to achieve them for their own "salvation".
I could use some doggedness and toughness too.
I had really been tough for quite a while,
but it is the past tense that I am using.
So, can you just somehow, regain that, assuredly??
=====
I will regard the painful modification of my thesis as a proofreading exercise.
Dr. Leung is right in saying that it is not as logically planned as one would like,
but he has contributed to such absence of logic.
He simply forced me to change my initial logic,
and it just lost the logical coherence from then on.
Luckily, thanks to the quiet environment of CUHK,
I think I know what it takes now.
The damnest thing in life?? One just can't seem enough with logic.
How much I hate it!!
I do believe, our brain is so sophisticated that
we know something is right or wrong without any concrete proof.
A poor example here: 十個光頭九個富,
it looks so real that you have to believe that.
同步發行－－觀影：Somewhere in Time
Does that has to end in this way??!! O Jesus!!
It's better than I thought when I was midway through it.
What a tragedy!!
Who loves who more? I think it's the woman (Elise).
Why? She loves him so much that she dies almost immediately after meeting him~
The emotion is what kills her.
Or, it is the feeling of finishing the SINGLE task of her life that kills.
The man (Richard Collier) is hopelessly silly,
and there just couldn't be anyone like that in real life.
Yet, ha ha, if I could go back in time,
I might as well die, once and for all.
One more thing, I don't think the old lady can stand the sight of him,
without trying to hug him or telling him everything.
將死之人，有何所懼！
我，有幾耐，未睇過，愛情片呢？
It's better than I thought when I was midway through it.
What a tragedy!!
Who loves who more? I think it's the woman (Elise).
Why? She loves him so much that she dies almost immediately after meeting him~
The emotion is what kills her.
Or, it is the feeling of finishing the SINGLE task of her life that kills.
The man (Richard Collier) is hopelessly silly,
and there just couldn't be anyone like that in real life.
Yet, ha ha, if I could go back in time,
I might as well die, once and for all.
One more thing, I don't think the old lady can stand the sight of him,
without trying to hug him or telling him everything.
將死之人，有何所懼！
我，有幾耐，未睇過，愛情片呢？
Saturday, September 27, 2008
I'm or I'm not joking
I am at war with myself:
A: I want to be a great scholar, great generalist, mastering both science and arts.
B: You're a fraud. You do it because there's nothing else to do.
A: I am true.
B: You aren't.
A: That's what I want to do. At least I'm now serious about arts in general, and linguistcs in particular.
B: If you can do anything, is this your choice?
A: Yes.
B: Imagine that. Would you work this hard, if you can retire tomorrow?
A: ..
B: I know you don't. You're learning things only because you have to.
Why would someone love novels if they have something else to enjoy?
A: Novels constitute the best writing in the world.
B: Be honest! What do you like most?!
A: Okay, I'd say, I want to travel a lot. Not in terms of no. of places, but in terms of time.
You know, I have a wanderlust. BUT, home is home. And I still want a home.
B: Who do you want to travel with? Alone? Friends? Or some kind of beasts?
A: I'd say with family. Hand-in-hand. That's the happiest thing that I can imagine.
B: Well, you must be day-dreaming.
A: It's night now.
B: Okay, it's getting late. See you next time.
A: I don't want to see you again.
B: You can't. You will see me if you look into a mirror.
A: I will close my eyes.
B: All right, it's time to sleep.
Ha, if this is the so-called inspiration I received from Mr. McCourt,
I'd better let my dreams disappear.
I still haven't lost my wits after all.
But, I find out one thing that I didn't know before.
I just realize that it is the idea of Italo Calvino!! in The Cloven Viscount!! (分成兩半的子爵)
To arrive at truth, you have to split yourself into two extremes, and talk.
Elegant, right?? This guy is a literary genius!!
=====
I think it's the first time I meet someone with a writer's eye and sensitivity.
To qualify, he has to understand what it means to have a father 51 years older,
and who is from an entirely different culture!!
Yet sometimes, I feel like I'm still my father's son.
I am as good as him. I am just not as bad as him. haha!
Gee! Talking about one's own father is something I learnt this year too~~
A: I want to be a great scholar, great generalist, mastering both science and arts.
B: You're a fraud. You do it because there's nothing else to do.
A: I am true.
B: You aren't.
A: That's what I want to do. At least I'm now serious about arts in general, and linguistcs in particular.
B: If you can do anything, is this your choice?
A: Yes.
B: Imagine that. Would you work this hard, if you can retire tomorrow?
A: ..
B: I know you don't. You're learning things only because you have to.
Why would someone love novels if they have something else to enjoy?
A: Novels constitute the best writing in the world.
B: Be honest! What do you like most?!
A: Okay, I'd say, I want to travel a lot. Not in terms of no. of places, but in terms of time.
You know, I have a wanderlust. BUT, home is home. And I still want a home.
B: Who do you want to travel with? Alone? Friends? Or some kind of beasts?
A: I'd say with family. Hand-in-hand. That's the happiest thing that I can imagine.
B: Well, you must be day-dreaming.
A: It's night now.
B: Okay, it's getting late. See you next time.
A: I don't want to see you again.
B: You can't. You will see me if you look into a mirror.
A: I will close my eyes.
B: All right, it's time to sleep.
Ha, if this is the so-called inspiration I received from Mr. McCourt,
I'd better let my dreams disappear.
I still haven't lost my wits after all.
But, I find out one thing that I didn't know before.
I just realize that it is the idea of Italo Calvino!! in The Cloven Viscount!! (分成兩半的子爵)
To arrive at truth, you have to split yourself into two extremes, and talk.
Elegant, right?? This guy is a literary genius!!
=====
I think it's the first time I meet someone with a writer's eye and sensitivity.
To qualify, he has to understand what it means to have a father 51 years older,
and who is from an entirely different culture!!
Yet sometimes, I feel like I'm still my father's son.
I am as good as him. I am just not as bad as him. haha!
Gee! Talking about one's own father is something I learnt this year too~~
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Just a piece of short writing
Living without a firm goal is disturbing, haunting, sometimes weird, often dangerous.
Yet it is still exciting, because you have to search for the importance of living, your values.
It takes courage, faith, belief, ideas and opinions, and -- religion? no no, I don't need it.
Yet it is still exciting, because you have to search for the importance of living, your values.
It takes courage, faith, belief, ideas and opinions, and -- religion? no no, I don't need it.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
I am hopeless
So I think I've got over with his books? No No, not so soon..
I simply love this type of writing. Taking the contents away,
it is still a good usage dictionary, a reference book with music.
I've enjoyed them, I've written about what the books mean,
now, it's time to get serious and absorb his powerful fist, and tongue, and rhythm..
Modify it a bit, and I could get my own tone..
=====
I am thinking about the structure of my word bank..
Chinese are excellent in using 綱目..
It really summarizes a lot of things very succinctly..
衣食住行，士農工商，生老病死，喜怒哀樂，
詩詞歌賦，琴棋書畫，人獸鬼神，眼耳口鼻，
天地萬物..
You can never appreciate the power of words without classifying them..
I simply love this type of writing. Taking the contents away,
it is still a good usage dictionary, a reference book with music.
I've enjoyed them, I've written about what the books mean,
now, it's time to get serious and absorb his powerful fist, and tongue, and rhythm..
Modify it a bit, and I could get my own tone..
=====
I am thinking about the structure of my word bank..
Chinese are excellent in using 綱目..
It really summarizes a lot of things very succinctly..
衣食住行，士農工商，生老病死，喜怒哀樂，
詩詞歌賦，琴棋書畫，人獸鬼神，眼耳口鼻，
天地萬物..
You can never appreciate the power of words without classifying them..
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
It's an irony
that I don't use the brain as much as before, yet I believe I get wiser.
So, am I saying that one gets wiser by not overusing his brain?
Can I develop satisfaction from something I regard as trivial??
No matter how succinct a statement over a trivial issue is,
it is still trivial. I admire its succinctness, that honestly I don't believe I can do it,
yet what's so important??
It's better not to use the brain to write something exact,
rather, I prefer doing some real works that demonstrate the writing of all kinds of things.
I don't like being censored, I don't like being banned.
I don't like being restricted to a single calling for the rest of my life.
I don't want to be stereotyped, even though I want myself to be something.
I don't know how the above paragraphs come to me..
I am just reading a text on translation -- Introducing Translation Studies by Jeremy Munday..
=====
It's all politics in Translation Studies..
The translators try their best to communicate between two cultures..
Yet, the businessmen care only about money..
We just want our shares of LITERATURE back..
It's of no use writing some stupid stories.
If you can't even write something attractive to the local readers,
how are you going to promote it to the outside world??
It's a shame that a writer as prominent as Jin Yong still hasn't got all his works translated..
And it's a shame we still have to call John 約翰 when everyone knows the name..
John is already a Cantonese word, at least a HongKonger word..
These are not to be translated in my opinions..
The pk-est thing is, we can't write in our local dialect..
Gotta respect your own language, man~~
And gotta respect the world language, man~~
It is only through learning of others, bits by bits,
that this world is going to cooperate as a unit..
=====
As I can't write freely in my native tongue,
so that's what I am doing, writing in English..
And, I really prefer to translate Chinese into English than otherwise,
because there's restriction in writing so-called good Chinese..
English?? It's freer!! You can even deliberately, spell the words wrongly,
just to make things appear more exotic and funny!!
So, am I saying that one gets wiser by not overusing his brain?
Can I develop satisfaction from something I regard as trivial??
No matter how succinct a statement over a trivial issue is,
it is still trivial. I admire its succinctness, that honestly I don't believe I can do it,
yet what's so important??
It's better not to use the brain to write something exact,
rather, I prefer doing some real works that demonstrate the writing of all kinds of things.
I don't like being censored, I don't like being banned.
I don't like being restricted to a single calling for the rest of my life.
I don't want to be stereotyped, even though I want myself to be something.
I don't know how the above paragraphs come to me..
I am just reading a text on translation -- Introducing Translation Studies by Jeremy Munday..
=====
It's all politics in Translation Studies..
The translators try their best to communicate between two cultures..
Yet, the businessmen care only about money..
We just want our shares of LITERATURE back..
It's of no use writing some stupid stories.
If you can't even write something attractive to the local readers,
how are you going to promote it to the outside world??
It's a shame that a writer as prominent as Jin Yong still hasn't got all his works translated..
And it's a shame we still have to call John 約翰 when everyone knows the name..
John is already a Cantonese word, at least a HongKonger word..
These are not to be translated in my opinions..
The pk-est thing is, we can't write in our local dialect..
Gotta respect your own language, man~~
And gotta respect the world language, man~~
It is only through learning of others, bits by bits,
that this world is going to cooperate as a unit..
=====
As I can't write freely in my native tongue,
so that's what I am doing, writing in English..
And, I really prefer to translate Chinese into English than otherwise,
because there's restriction in writing so-called good Chinese..
English?? It's freer!! You can even deliberately, spell the words wrongly,
just to make things appear more exotic and funny!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Goals this coming half-year and beyond
1. Develop a platform and a network for self-learning, so that even if I do get to work,
I can still have time for the lifelong commitment of self-improvement.
The "network" will include a word bank, a reading-list, and a to-do list,
all assembled and organized in as perfect a manner as I would like.
It is vague, right?? But things will get clearer..
2. Master one language: English. (行有餘力，則以學文)
3. Be good enough in another: Putonghua (forget Italian/Spanish for now)
4. Learn something about linguistics.
5. Write some good term papers.
6. Translate a few things.
My days with enrolled classes in a week:
Sept 08: Wed - Thur
Oct 08: Tue - Thur
Nov 08: Tue - Thur
Dec 08: Mon, Tue, Thur
Jan 09: Mon - Thur, Sat
Feb 09: Sat - Wed
Mar 09: Sat - Wed
Apr 09: Free! and Decision Day!
But, things never go like one hopes.
What I can only do is, to make my life more predictable.
I can still have time for the lifelong commitment of self-improvement.
The "network" will include a word bank, a reading-list, and a to-do list,
all assembled and organized in as perfect a manner as I would like.
It is vague, right?? But things will get clearer..
2. Master one language: English. (行有餘力，則以學文)
3. Be good enough in another: Putonghua (forget Italian/Spanish for now)
4. Learn something about linguistics.
5. Write some good term papers.
6. Translate a few things.
My days with enrolled classes in a week:
Sept 08: Wed - Thur
Oct 08: Tue - Thur
Nov 08: Tue - Thur
Dec 08: Mon, Tue, Thur
Jan 09: Mon - Thur, Sat
Feb 09: Sat - Wed
Mar 09: Sat - Wed
Apr 09: Free! and Decision Day!
But, things never go like one hopes.
What I can only do is, to make my life more predictable.
This one looks pretty darn good
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Sunday, September 21, 2008
It's one dream after another
Each adds to my belief. Each is strengthening my determination.
Each is broadening my field of interests..
There's no reasoning here. I can only believe I have that little ability,
even though I may be the worst native speaker of Cantonese in the world..
Last year, I couldn't apply this, but what about next semester??
when I will have 5 courses under my belt,
not counting the other 5 that I audit??
Find a part-time job or what, have some hand-on experiences,
save $40000 from Jan to Aug.. Switch to MA in Linguistics in Sept,
publish a paper or at least try to write one,
then the path is straight -- I would be either teaching LS or Math,
or even Eng in Language Center!! (whoa!!)
And then, putonghua is something that I can always pick up in SPACE, SCOPE, or CUHKSCS..
Crazy!! But 'f I'm more comfortable speaking putonghua, why don't try it??
The next thing is, I can go for a PhD in whatever!
My mind is simple. I only have belief~~ Faith!!
=====
=====
I am thinking about developing my own word bank..
Once there's a driving force, I can learn database in no time.
=====
It is full of arrogance here. I can't help myself.
I was taught and I have learnt to be selfish in a right way -- to think for yourself.
Then I agree with "Saint Einstein" about reminding oneself about others' services 100 times a day.
Each is broadening my field of interests..
There's no reasoning here. I can only believe I have that little ability,
even though I may be the worst native speaker of Cantonese in the world..
Last year, I couldn't apply this, but what about next semester??
when I will have 5 courses under my belt,
not counting the other 5 that I audit??
Find a part-time job or what, have some hand-on experiences,
save $40000 from Jan to Aug.. Switch to MA in Linguistics in Sept,
publish a paper or at least try to write one,
then the path is straight -- I would be either teaching LS or Math,
or even Eng in Language Center!! (whoa!!)
And then, putonghua is something that I can always pick up in SPACE, SCOPE, or CUHKSCS..
Crazy!! But 'f I'm more comfortable speaking putonghua, why don't try it??
The next thing is, I can go for a PhD in whatever!
My mind is simple. I only have belief~~ Faith!!
=====
Master of Arts in Linguistics
Master of Arts in Chinese Linguistics and Language Acquisition (NEW)
=====
I am thinking about developing my own word bank..
Once there's a driving force, I can learn database in no time.
=====
It is full of arrogance here. I can't help myself.
I was taught and I have learnt to be selfish in a right way -- to think for yourself.
Then I agree with "Saint Einstein" about reminding oneself about others' services 100 times a day.
Got a chip in the shoulder
Some people are like that.. They are never going to let go of
any time and any opportunities to show their passions
and earn the numerous advantages and disadvantages that come with them..
They would then be self-constrained for most of their lives,
at least from the point of view of outsiders..
These are the best scholars, yet their lives are too tough..
and maybe somewhat too exciting.. so exciting that it gets dull..
This is not what I want.. and what do I want??
Be sure to know your role.. and try not to do anything beyond your wishes..
Life is too short.. Ultimate freedom is achieved when you can be your own boss..
any time and any opportunities to show their passions
and earn the numerous advantages and disadvantages that come with them..
They would then be self-constrained for most of their lives,
at least from the point of view of outsiders..
These are the best scholars, yet their lives are too tough..
and maybe somewhat too exciting.. so exciting that it gets dull..
This is not what I want.. and what do I want??
Be sure to know your role.. and try not to do anything beyond your wishes..
Life is too short.. Ultimate freedom is achieved when you can be your own boss..
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Wandering in Academia
If you find a book of this name some 30 years later,
it would be under the name Manson Fong.
I would not try this approach deliberately just to make this book happen,
for I only want a home.
It is easy to write a book that no one would read..
Yet, getting the publicity or not, I am going to write something some day..
You can take my words.. Writing is exciting!
I think by-and-by, I am going to find out where I belong..
I still believe there's a place for me in academia..
Otherwise, I may as well go to a monastery.. haha..
Well, it's just a joke..
Right now, I hope the destination is the Linguistics Department..
because it is almost the only discipline that has a good combination of modernity and antiquity..
It is relevant -- translation is itself a branch of applied linguistics..
Now, I only have to make myself relevant..
And I can assure you, it is easier and happier than getting a physics PhD..
it would be under the name Manson Fong.
I would not try this approach deliberately just to make this book happen,
for I only want a home.
It is easy to write a book that no one would read..
Yet, getting the publicity or not, I am going to write something some day..
You can take my words.. Writing is exciting!
I think by-and-by, I am going to find out where I belong..
I still believe there's a place for me in academia..
Otherwise, I may as well go to a monastery.. haha..
Well, it's just a joke..
Right now, I hope the destination is the Linguistics Department..
because it is almost the only discipline that has a good combination of modernity and antiquity..
It is relevant -- translation is itself a branch of applied linguistics..
Now, I only have to make myself relevant..
And I can assure you, it is easier and happier than getting a physics PhD..
江山易改，本性難移
我發現，我骨子裏還是一個科學懶人。
我沒有這些 researchers 的魄力。
在以下三個身份裏－－Researcher, Student, Teacher,
我認為自己最有能力的還是 S & T..
但在這個大氣候裏，你 study or teach o既永遠係一些你唔感興趣 o既話題。
最 ideal、最啱我做 o既，就係學佢地哩 d researchers o既文章，
再幫佢地四圍唱，也就是所謂的科普，
或者更加合適地命名為 "學術普及"。
有學習的權利，也需要有做研究的義務。
但，如果這個義務 occupy 你所有的時間，
還是算了吧..
I am sure I can't be a researcher for life..
I have to find out how to make a living with my academic knowledge..
I am totally impressed by linguistics..
先看這兩本書再算：
1. 王士元 -- 語言、語音與技術 (下學期有機會可以上佢堂，期待)
2. Readings from Scientific American -- The Emergence of Language (Development and Evolution)
我沒有這些 researchers 的魄力。
在以下三個身份裏－－Researcher, Student, Teacher,
我認為自己最有能力的還是 S & T..
但在這個大氣候裏，你 study or teach o既永遠係一些你唔感興趣 o既話題。
最 ideal、最啱我做 o既，就係學佢地哩 d researchers o既文章，
再幫佢地四圍唱，也就是所謂的科普，
或者更加合適地命名為 "學術普及"。
有學習的權利，也需要有做研究的義務。
但，如果這個義務 occupy 你所有的時間，
還是算了吧..
I am sure I can't be a researcher for life..
I have to find out how to make a living with my academic knowledge..
I am totally impressed by linguistics..
先看這兩本書再算：
1. 王士元 -- 語言、語音與技術 (下學期有機會可以上佢堂，期待)
2. Readings from Scientific American -- The Emergence of Language (Development and Evolution)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The dreams are exploding!!
It is quite clear by now that I don't really prefer to finish this MA in Translation.
I want to switch again after 1 year or so.
But without this one year, I won't be able to get into anything.
A few choices:
1. Master of Arts in Chinese Linguistics and Language Acquisition
2. PhD in GeoInformation Science (the arts of using statistics to lie, and the science of Earth)
3. Continue with MA in Translation
Which is better?? (All are CU programmes)
The first one is about teaching and learning Chinese as a second language.
(who know? I may make some fortunes abroad!)
It is also a preparatory course for a PhD in Linguistics.
So what are the languages that I can possibly investigate??
Cantonese, English, Putonghua, Teochiu, and.. well..
Linguistics is the study of languages in a scientific manner.
I took one course 2 years ago, and I really loved it and got an A-.
But is this what I want? Is this what I am capable of doing?
I will find that out soon.
How can one be so ignorant about your own culture??
=====
If things don't pan out, I can always have another path..
After so many things, I can teach liberal arts, I hope..
Physics?? Mathematics??
Why would you want to teach it if you yourself find the academia so hostile??
Why would you persuade others to get into a crab like this??
It isn't the stuff that is crappy, it is the people.. my goodness..
Getting a BSc in Physics is great, but go no further.
You simply shouldn't if you are a wise scientific humanitarian Daoist.
Were I slightly smarter a few years back,
I would do a major in Physics (with no mathematics) + minor in Humanities..
I want to switch again after 1 year or so.
But without this one year, I won't be able to get into anything.
A few choices:
1. Master of Arts in Chinese Linguistics and Language Acquisition
2. PhD in GeoInformation Science (the arts of using statistics to lie, and the science of Earth)
3. Continue with MA in Translation
Which is better?? (All are CU programmes)
The first one is about teaching and learning Chinese as a second language.
(who know? I may make some fortunes abroad!)
It is also a preparatory course for a PhD in Linguistics.
So what are the languages that I can possibly investigate??
Cantonese, English, Putonghua, Teochiu, and.. well..
Linguistics is the study of languages in a scientific manner.
I took one course 2 years ago, and I really loved it and got an A-.
But is this what I want? Is this what I am capable of doing?
I will find that out soon.
How can one be so ignorant about your own culture??
=====
If things don't pan out, I can always have another path..
After so many things, I can teach liberal arts, I hope..
Physics?? Mathematics??
Why would you want to teach it if you yourself find the academia so hostile??
Why would you persuade others to get into a crab like this??
It isn't the stuff that is crappy, it is the people.. my goodness..
Getting a BSc in Physics is great, but go no further.
You simply shouldn't if you are a wise scientific humanitarian Daoist.
Were I slightly smarter a few years back,
I would do a major in Physics (with no mathematics) + minor in Humanities..
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
夢想教室？
Teacher Man 給譯出來了。也好，之前譯的幾頁就用來做比較吧.. 遲左一步 tim..
譯做《夢想教室》其實有點太過，畢竟他可沒這樣 ambitious，
但譁眾得黎都幾討好，佩服、佩服。
比《教書匠》、《教書佬》、《教書人》、《為人師表》、《教書先生》等都要好。
他的三十年有點夢幻，卻不太夢想。
而說為人師表也不太好.. 哈哈.. 他某方面的道德修養始終還是偏低了一點..
但大陸 ge proposals, 你想有幾好？
本書 ge 大意其實係：From Fears to Freedom -- Teaching to learn and learning to teach..
即係咩呢？譯唔倒.. 《教學相長》又唔吸引.. 《從教學中學做人》又太長.. 仍舊係悶..
How about《學人做教師》？點左題，但係又有少少離題..
所以話譯者都算係咁..
=====
哈哈.. 《學人做教師》愈睇愈好.. 哈哈.. 香港係要哩 d 名 ge..
人地話哂都係個 scholar (學人) 嘛！
=====
榮登紐約時報、華爾街日報、華盛頓郵報、出版家週刊、邦諾書店、美國獨立書店協會等全美各大排行榜冠軍！
譯做《夢想教室》其實有點太過，畢竟他可沒這樣 ambitious，
但譁眾得黎都幾討好，佩服、佩服。
比《教書匠》、《教書佬》、《教書人》、《為人師表》、《教書先生》等都要好。
他的三十年有點夢幻，卻不太夢想。
而說為人師表也不太好.. 哈哈.. 他某方面的道德修養始終還是偏低了一點..
但大陸 ge proposals, 你想有幾好？
本書 ge 大意其實係：From Fears to Freedom -- Teaching to learn and learning to teach..
即係咩呢？譯唔倒.. 《教學相長》又唔吸引.. 《從教學中學做人》又太長.. 仍舊係悶..
How about《學人做教師》？點左題，但係又有少少離題..
所以話譯者都算係咁..
=====
哈哈.. 《學人做教師》愈睇愈好.. 哈哈.. 香港係要哩 d 名 ge..
人地話哂都係個 scholar (學人) 嘛！
=====
榮登紐約時報、華爾街日報、華盛頓郵報、出版家週刊、邦諾書店、美國獨立書店協會等全美各大排行榜冠軍！
啟發超越《優秀是教出來的》！感人更勝《第56號教室的奇蹟》！
他用30年的青春，啟發了超過12,000名學生的心靈，
也為他贏得了『全美最佳教師獎』的最高榮譽！
學生眼中流露的智識光芒，
是老師最期待的回饋！
但他更看到了學生身上的希望，
決心用這間教室護衛每一個夢想！
法蘭克．麥考特最為人所知的身分或許是《安琪拉的灰燼》國際知名暢銷作家兼普立茲獎得主，但其實他人生最精華的三十年，都貢獻給了無數的學生。
麥考特教的是英文，一週只有幾堂課，卻成功的抓住了學生的心，打造出學生夢想中的教室。麥考特認為，好老師不一定要活潑外向、勉強改變自己的個性，只要心存對教學工作的善念，並時時設身處地的思考坐在講臺下學生的需要，自然就能打開學生的心扉，成為學生們的心靈捕手。
在這個夢想教室裡沒有響亮的教育口號，但老師的教學方式既新鮮有趣又充滿創意，從寫信給『亞當和夏娃』來練習創意寫作、朗讀食譜加野餐好認識外來單字， 到為『小紅帽』辯論以重新認識自我……麥考特讓學生們不僅樂在學習，更學會活出自我，並勇於面對自己的缺點以及沒有標準答案的人生挑戰，也因此為他贏得了 『全美最佳教師獎』的最高榮譽！
麥考特三十年的教學生涯充滿著與學生之間的感人故事，笑中帶淚卻發人深省。這是麥考特用超過三萬三千堂課的心血所換來最珍貴的一堂課，也是值得所有讀者借鏡的一趟生命之旅！
作者簡介
法蘭克．麥考特 Frank McCourt
一九三○年出生於紐約市布魯克林區，父母為愛爾蘭裔移民。一九四○年代搬回愛爾蘭利莫瑞克的貧民窟，一九四九年重新踏上美國國土，並在紐約這個民族混雜的大城市擔任高中英文老師長達三十年之久。
麥考特的執教經歷豐富，除了技職高中、社區大學，他也教過頂尖的私立貴族高中，三十年間共教過一萬二千名以上的學生。憑藉著對教育的熱情與迥異於傳統的 教學方式，麥考特成功的克服了諸多難題，雖然也屢屢引來保守體制內的反對聲浪，但麥考特用學生的優異表現證明了一切，並因而榮獲教育界的最高榮譽──『全美最佳教師獎』！
老師的工作絕不輕鬆，大量待批改的學生作業每每佔據了家庭生活，更不時得回應學生傳來的求助訊息，但麥考特認為自己的優點就是頑強固執，『雖然這不像雄心壯志、才華洋溢、才智出眾、魅力四射這些特質來得悅耳，但藉著這個長處，我熬過了無數日日夜夜。』
在執教之餘，麥考特不忘寄情寫作，第一部作品《安琪拉的灰燼》即贏得普立茲傳記文學獎、美國國家書評獎、洛杉磯時報書卷獎，在全世界都備受讚譽，締造了輝煌的暢銷佳績，目前銷售量已超過四百萬本，並被改編拍成電影。他另著有《安琪拉的灰燼》的續集《就是這裡了》。
目前麥考特與妻子愛倫住在紐約及康乃迪克州。
譯者簡介
林立仁
一九七二年生於台北。英國薩里大學企管研究所畢業，輔仁大學翻譯研究所肄業。現專事翻譯工作，譯作有《血宴》、《冰霜將至》等書。
An excerpt of my letter to Lee the economic physicist
I have subscribed to the Taiwan version of Scientific American. It lags behind by a month, but there are more articles related to Taiwan in particular, so even I don't like the translated terms, I subscribed to it instead. The July (US) edition talks about migration of modern humans -- it is related to Diamond's books too!
"I am very pessimistic about the future of the world after reading Diamond"
Indeed, I am too. Before, I believed science is the answer, but honestly I don't feel the world is getting any better now. There maybe some short-term solutions (like the methane hydrates in deep sea, have you heard of it before?), yet I think space settlement is just a fancy. Do you feel the same?
Yepp, freedom is the main thing. Maybe that's the main reason I can never be a follower of any religion. I find it really odd that people could restraint themselves to such an extent, as in the case of Buddhism. Oh, why am I mentioning this?
The translation course will take 3 to 4 semesters. I guess, with the extra time, I'd try to develop a healthier style of living, e.g, more sports and outdoor activities.
There are also two things I want to learn for long. I'll do a short course on Chinese calligraphy starting mid-October. I always admire my father's handwriting. Chinese words looks wonderful to me, they're almost as good as pictures.. haha..
Then, I really want to play piano. I'll see if I can squeeze some time for it after finishing off the thesis.
What other interest classes do you have now? I remember you went to dance on Saturdays. I should've come before!! Do you still dance now?
One thing that you may know what I mean. I'm more of a science student, so something ought to happen in my head in an Arts class. =.=" I guess economics is still closer to physics, so you probably find the transition smoother.
I am having somewhat a dilemma now, like what I am going to do with a MPhil in physics and an Master of Arts in translation. Job is always a big headache until you actually get one. I feel like things would reveal themselves after a while, yet the pressure is on now (e.g, friends are always asking).
Anyway, just like you, freedom is my core value. And to me, this is especially true for academic freedom, i.e. to think about what one wants to think. It's so tough for me before. I guess that has become a norm in academia. Just too bad.
It isn't a matter of life-and-death though.. haha..
=====
I honestly feel like we share so many interests..
It's a blessing to have a "penfriend" like him~~
"I am very pessimistic about the future of the world after reading Diamond"
Indeed, I am too. Before, I believed science is the answer, but honestly I don't feel the world is getting any better now. There maybe some short-term solutions (like the methane hydrates in deep sea, have you heard of it before?), yet I think space settlement is just a fancy. Do you feel the same?
Yepp, freedom is the main thing. Maybe that's the main reason I can never be a follower of any religion. I find it really odd that people could restraint themselves to such an extent, as in the case of Buddhism. Oh, why am I mentioning this?
The translation course will take 3 to 4 semesters. I guess, with the extra time, I'd try to develop a healthier style of living, e.g, more sports and outdoor activities.
There are also two things I want to learn for long. I'll do a short course on Chinese calligraphy starting mid-October. I always admire my father's handwriting. Chinese words looks wonderful to me, they're almost as good as pictures.. haha..
Then, I really want to play piano. I'll see if I can squeeze some time for it after finishing off the thesis.
What other interest classes do you have now? I remember you went to dance on Saturdays. I should've come before!! Do you still dance now?
One thing that you may know what I mean. I'm more of a science student, so something ought to happen in my head in an Arts class. =.=" I guess economics is still closer to physics, so you probably find the transition smoother.
I am having somewhat a dilemma now, like what I am going to do with a MPhil in physics and an Master of Arts in translation. Job is always a big headache until you actually get one. I feel like things would reveal themselves after a while, yet the pressure is on now (e.g, friends are always asking).
Anyway, just like you, freedom is my core value. And to me, this is especially true for academic freedom, i.e. to think about what one wants to think. It's so tough for me before. I guess that has become a norm in academia. Just too bad.
It isn't a matter of life-and-death though.. haha..
=====
I honestly feel like we share so many interests..
It's a blessing to have a "penfriend" like him~~
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Translation
今個學期 Translation 修三科 sit 一科。四科都係完全唔 inspiring ge..
我唔會要求自己要拎 B+ or above。
Average 就可以了。
我寧可花時間做一做真正的學問 (這個年代還有人這樣說話嗎？)
下學期果兩科，我希望唔會令我失望。
Literary translation & Translation criticism..
今個 sem 決定得過且過。
當務之急，還是解決 MPhil Thesis..
別再隨心所欲了！
=====
今日買了兩套書，扣完 cash dollars 之後 $139 6 本。
一套係我一向好佩服 ge 語言學大師王力所編 ge "古代漢語" (繁體版！)。
另一套係錢鍾書常 "掛在嘴邊" 的 "兒女英雄傳"。
上了一星期課，決定姑且試一試當四個月全職文科學生，而且要比其他人更稱職。
所以，我會去 sit 以下的堂：
1. 史記 -- 教授風趣得黎挺有教學熱誠，應該是今個學期最 enjoy 的課
2. From Romanticism to Modernism -- 學少少西方的文學批評
3. Shakespeare -- 這個不用多說了
4. History of English Language -- 由 old English (6th century) 講到 world English (20th century)，
去 sit 主要係為睇 Canterbury Tales 同 Shakespeare
=====
再咁落去，我最合理的路係教通識.....
但其實我乜都唔識.....
還是練練口才和急才再算.....
我好似可以嚮 seminar 度發言了......
=====
我想讀個 PhD，但係.. 我首先要 ensure 我可以 enjoy.. 3 年太長了.. 必須要 happy..
唔可以好似 MPhil 咁，almost 係個 complete failure..
有唸過 linguistics (但係唔夠膽).. 有唸過 translation (但係唔係咁想)..
亦有唸過 education (但係驚悶左又冇用)..
有咩 field 係我可以更上一層樓架呢？
=====
王力本 1810 頁 ge 書 (分四冊) 好好睇.. 一代語言學大師係唔同 d..
講起野黎非常之咁有 common sense..
完全冇 jargon.. 我最佩服就係哩 d 人..
convey 倒 message 之餘又唔駛人唸爆頭..
我要睇哂《古代漢語》去！
另外李澤厚的《美的歷程》也很好.. 引文引得好暢順，係編書高手~~
作為中國藝術思想史 ge 入門書籍，好像非常的稱職..
好像我也可以試一試 arts appreciation..
這是讀 Arts Translation 的收穫..
=====
首七天過得雖然過得很豐足，但始終這是一個人的事，略嫌有點美中不足..
我唔會要求自己要拎 B+ or above。
Average 就可以了。
我寧可花時間做一做真正的學問 (這個年代還有人這樣說話嗎？)
下學期果兩科，我希望唔會令我失望。
Literary translation & Translation criticism..
今個 sem 決定得過且過。
當務之急，還是解決 MPhil Thesis..
別再隨心所欲了！
=====
今日買了兩套書，扣完 cash dollars 之後 $139 6 本。
一套係我一向好佩服 ge 語言學大師王力所編 ge "古代漢語" (繁體版！)。
另一套係錢鍾書常 "掛在嘴邊" 的 "兒女英雄傳"。
上了一星期課，決定姑且試一試當四個月全職文科學生，而且要比其他人更稱職。
所以，我會去 sit 以下的堂：
1. 史記 -- 教授風趣得黎挺有教學熱誠，應該是今個學期最 enjoy 的課
2. From Romanticism to Modernism -- 學少少西方的文學批評
3. Shakespeare -- 這個不用多說了
4. History of English Language -- 由 old English (6th century) 講到 world English (20th century)，
去 sit 主要係為睇 Canterbury Tales 同 Shakespeare
=====
再咁落去，我最合理的路係教通識.....
但其實我乜都唔識.....
還是練練口才和急才再算.....
我好似可以嚮 seminar 度發言了......
=====
我想讀個 PhD，但係.. 我首先要 ensure 我可以 enjoy.. 3 年太長了.. 必須要 happy..
唔可以好似 MPhil 咁，almost 係個 complete failure..
有唸過 linguistics (但係唔夠膽).. 有唸過 translation (但係唔係咁想)..
亦有唸過 education (但係驚悶左又冇用)..
有咩 field 係我可以更上一層樓架呢？
=====
王力本 1810 頁 ge 書 (分四冊) 好好睇.. 一代語言學大師係唔同 d..
講起野黎非常之咁有 common sense..
完全冇 jargon.. 我最佩服就係哩 d 人..
convey 倒 message 之餘又唔駛人唸爆頭..
我要睇哂《古代漢語》去！
另外李澤厚的《美的歷程》也很好.. 引文引得好暢順，係編書高手~~
作為中國藝術思想史 ge 入門書籍，好像非常的稱職..
好像我也可以試一試 arts appreciation..
這是讀 Arts Translation 的收穫..
=====
首七天過得雖然過得很豐足，但始終這是一個人的事，略嫌有點美中不足..
