The “H” Word in Chinese Style Parenting

The “H” Word in Chinese Style Parenting

---作舟

Among many interesting linguistic studies, the relationship between thought and language remains intriguing to me. Which comes first, thought or language?

This seems to resemble the “chicken and egg riddle.”

Without language, it is impossible for humans to “think.” Language, broadly speaking, is made of symbols and signs which include the various expressions of human perception and emotion, etc..

Different cultures are the soil for their inhabitants to create their own languages. In other words, the difference between people’s thinking is primarily a cultural difference. Although we have no way to "see " how a person's brain functions without the advanced “MRI machine,” a person's thinking or thought is reflected through his or her behavior when interacting with others, including family members.

One’s thought has impact on others and nature no matter how insignificant it might be. If a person lives in an "absolute vacuum", then his / her thinking is pointless. There is no absolute vacuum on earth, so everyone's thinking has its basis and produces effects on others.

The brain is a part of the human organism. We can not get rid of the existence of its biological and cultural genes. Our brains and our bodies are from the bodies and brains of our parents. Although the way we think might change when our environment of living changes, the brain is still the "original" one.

When thinking of our mother culture, bias and cover-up are self-defeating. In translating the Chinese saying "turn iron into steel(恨鐵不成鋼)," the word “恨”is often lost in translation. But the word “恨”is a representative reflection of a collective thinking in terms of parenting in Chinese culture.

Hate is one of the most negative factors in human thoughts. A newborn baby is not aware of "hate;" "恨" is a psychological barrier developed through language and culture. It is also a way of thinking through language’s subtle influence on its speakers.

The Chinese syntactic equivalent of "remorse" and "resentment" also contain the character “恨,” which shows it is not easy to get rid of “hate virus” in the mind of ordinary people: regret, but also hate; It’s not enough to complain without adding “hate!”

The "hate virus” can be converted and manifested through various human behaviors and presence. Inferiority and self-flagellation are among the minor symptoms. The more serious ones can turn into any kind of negative anger.The most horrible thing is when some people unknowingly mix “hate” into love.

"恨" is certainly not the Chinese people's patents. I hope that sensitive readers will not take it the wrong way. This is an intentional bashing on "Chinese culture."

However, "恨" is omnipresent in the reality of Chinese culture. Throughout Chinese history, a variety of “hate” has been created, for example, the hatred towards enemies and certain ethnic groups.

The causes of “恨”in the depths of one’s psyche are closely linked to one’s national culture. From this perspective, we can all remember the “恨”we saw when we were young and we can still see "恨" around us no matter what form it is being reflected.

Those who hate know what it is.

When we meditate on our lives and thoughts, we may find a lot of our thinking has already been impacted by the “inherent” element in the language we use.

When we do not fully understand "恨", we can not know what love means!

所有跟帖： 

• "Which comes first,thought or language?"我還真沒有想過呢。 -紓珈- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/21/2011 postreply 14:29:42