The prestigious Peking University and Tsinghua University held graduation ceremonies on the same day this year. The presidents of the two universities delivered excellent speeches at the ceremonies as they used words, phrases or ways of expression that are very popular on the Internet currently. At the same time, graduation speeches by other university presidents were also under the spotlight for the same reason. Their speeches were warmly welcomed by students as they contained many fashionable words today, such as “floating clouds” (meaning ‘too trivial to mention’) and “gelivable” (meaning ‘very helpful’). In the speeches, these university presidents recalled campus life together with students and finally moved all the audiences. They were very different from the usual run of lectures.
Many university presidents have changed their regular manner of addressing graduation ceremonies from an advising and preaching mode to a more fashionable and funny approach. They try to use those words prevalent among young people in their speeches.
In the past, university presidents’ speeches were criticized for being stereotyped and lacking sentiment. Now, they quote fashionable words in their addresses, reflecting they are starting to adopt more everyday attitudes to students. The use of these new expressions has triggered a heated discussion. It focuses on the question of whether university presidents should speak in an informal way at graduation ceremonies.
Supporters agree with the new approach. They consider it good to build close ties with students by using the youth’s own words. Opponents argue the new ways have no practical value or significance for education but are solely to please those leaving university.
Supporters
Han Haoyue (www.rmlt.com.cn): It is
good for university presidents to use fashionable words and words drawn from the Internet at graduation ceremonies. A large number of new words are created in cyberspace everyday. Most of them will soon be forgotten, but a few may prevail and even be recorded in dictionaries. Although people may tire of frequently used new words, these words always exist for a reason. As long as they are not abandoned, they will go on living.
There are maybe two reasons why people don’t like presidents’ using Internet language. First, they think the new words pollute the Chinese language; second, they consider the presidents should maintain a proper manner or style as senior scholars and avoid using fashionable words as youth do.
These two opinions are both wrong. In
fact, the wave of new words refreshes our language. And seeing a university president as a common citizen or netizen is a start to bringing universities in line with today’s world. Consequently, I’d like to encourage the presidents rather than criticizing them.
Wang Dengfeng (tieba.baidu.com):
A graduation ceremony has a focus on interactive communication between teachers and students. Young people speak in their favorite ways to express feelings and arouse common understanding. Moreover, the new words or new ways of expression created with the coming of the Internet time have many advantages, such as helping build closer ties between speaker and listener. It is worthwhile university presidents’ attempting to make their addresses at graduation ceremonies in ways that connect with students.
By using vogue words popular on the Internet, university presidents have not only changed traditional way of delivering graduation speeches but also changed their attitudes toward addressing graduation ceremonies. There is no need to criticize presidents who please students through using youth’s favorite expressions at graduation ceremonies. It heralds a pleasant return to equality of relations between presidents and their students.
Tian Xia Yu Ha (nmgdxalycj.home.
news.cn/blog/): Universities are in the frontline of ideas and theories. Their presidents use popular expressions to summarize the four-year university life and say goodbye to graduates, which is surely warmly welcomed by students. It would be quite boring if presidents still delivered their addresses in old ways. So why not deliver humorous and passionate speeches to make enjoyable ceremonies for everybody? A good speech encourages the spirit of the audience. Students do not want to listen to a didactic speech at their graduation ceremonies. Reforms to get rid of bureaucracy in universities should be done step by step, and maybe they should start from the presidents’graduation speeches first.
As time passes, society is progressing. Today the wide use of the Internet is greatly changing the world. So we should advance with the times. Since China’s reform and opening up were initiated three decades ago, Chinese people have been accepting new ideas from the outside world and progressing with every passing day. But we neither forget who we are, nor lose our traditional culture. Therefore, new means of expression deserves to be understood. University presidents should be encouraged to address graduation ceremonies using fashionable new words to communicate with graduates.
Opponents
Bi Xiaozhe (www.edu.cn): Needless
to say, presidents of China’s two outstanding universities delivered splendid speeches, and had a good influence on the graduation ceremonies. But the influence is too weak to mention.
Such excellent speeches have no direct and strong relationship to university education or the future of graduates. A wellprepared graduation speech will not improve the current state of the education system which has been criticized a lot in recent years, so these speeches littered with fashionable words have a limited effect on education itself. In addition, students do not often hear such pleasing speeches during their time at university.
An excellent speech has little effect on the current reforms in universities. The real challenges facing university education are: dryasdust teaching, old ideas, and lack of incentives to innovation and care about students, rather than whether presidents are familiar with popular words from the Internet.
Huang Tuanyuan (www.edu.cn):
The presidents of universities should keep their own characteristics in speeches. A speech should contain significant content and inspiration rather than mere jokes or newly created words. Outstanding educationists from history have already set good examples for today’s university presidents. In 1916, Cai Yuanpei, President of Peking
University at that time, said, “Students in universities should make learning their sacred duty, rather than seeking political power or wealth as their purpose in life.”Cai built close friendships with his students because of his warm heart and care about students. His words and action are still remembered by people today. In contrast, the heated debate over graduation speeches reflects there is a gap between today’s presidents of universities and their students.
Zeng Ying (www.rmlt.com.cn):
University presidents should use newly created words as little as possible. Presidents’speeches at graduation ceremonies are probably the last classes for graduates. For this reason, the speeches should contain more thought than florid words. But people have highlighted the use of popular words, misunderstanding the nature of graduation speeches.
Present-day expressions used on the Internet are usually created and used by young people. Perhaps these new words and sayings do not correctly express feelings and thoughts. When a graduation ceremony is full of various pop words, the dignity of the academia disappears. It is not difficult for heads of universities to find elegant words to express their feelings about students’ graduation and their hope for the students’ future.
Peng Lijie (Wuhan Daily): University
presidents should not be the promoters of the Internet language. First, for teachers and students, a graduation ceremony is a time to say farewell. Everyone should express their real feelings at that time. There is no need to please students with claptrap at these ceremonies. Second, these newly created words often contain much misuse of Chinese language. Presidents should not use them too much.
Wang Li (www.eastday.com):
Presidents of universities may use popular words in their speeches at graduation ceremonies, but they should speak in the voices of their hearts. These popular words may prevail for only a while. Truly heartfelt and sincere expression will be remembered by students for the rest of their lives. In all, every speech should have its own characteristics, rather than copying and imitating others.