The FirstLecture Series on Ecolinguistics were successfully held in Room 5A402 of theSchool of Foreign Studies in South China Agricultural University on June13. 

   The theme ofthe lecture series was “Zooming in on Confucianism and Ecological Harmony”. Thespeakers included Professor Zheng Dongping from University ofHawaii, Doctor Andrew Lambert from the City University of NewYork and Professor Huang Guowen from South China Agricultural University.

     Secretary Wu Shantian of the School presided over the opening ceremony. Vice President of the University Xian Chunlong attended the opening ceremony on behalf of the University and delivered a welcoming speech.

     Professor Huang Guowen gave a key-note speech entitled “Harmonious Discourse Analysis”, in which he first introduced how he started research on ecolinguistics and then pointed out the social responsibilities of language researchers. He indicated that language not only reflected but also constructed facts and established human relations.

     Doctor Andrew Lambert gave a speech on “Rethinking Tianrenheyi: Approaching Confucian Harmony through Le and Social Events”. He analyzed the connotation of Tianrenheyi and compared Plato’s and Socrates’ thoughts and Yin Yang & Five Elements in Chinese culture.

     Doctor Zheng Dongping gave a speech on “An Ecological-Confucian Becoming, Friending and (Trans)Languaging: Design and Methods”.

    The Schooloriginally planned to enroll 40 learners but it turned out that as many as 150teachers and students from South China Agricultural University, Sun Yat-senUniversity, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Technology, Sydney,Xiamen University, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Central ChinaAgricultural University etc. registered and attended the lecture series.

    The lectureseries lasted for a whole day and have familiarized the learners with theobjectives, contents and research methodology of ecolinguistics.

    The secondlecture series on ecolinguisitcs will be held this August.

(Report by Qin Jianhua  Picturesby Cen Haoxian)