ABSTRACT
Competence of using language(s) is vital for our self-expression and communication, but the hegemony of English (hailed as the ‘International Language’) means that we do not give voice on an equal basis. Language is not just the carrier of culture, it is also a product of power that can be felt most strongly in cross-cultural intellectual exchanges. Those who are not able to master the ‘proper’ language will also find themselves without the power to talk and convince. I therefore admire the efforts the organizers and editors of the Workshop and this book made in ensuring that all participants use their own language to speak – not just on a linguistic level (where both English and Chinese, that is, Putonghua, are accepted), but on other discursive levels as well. Such a consciousness of the differences between languages (which carry with them the cultural connotations of worldview) is critical in creating dynamic and fruitful dialogues across geographical, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries.
