[quote author=Chu]Interestingly, I recently started reviewing and studying Chinese again (when time allows), and found an excellent method to do it.[/quote]
Oh?
Would you mind sharing? Sounds interesting.
[quote author=Chu]I'm VERY far from your level,[/quote]
I never take people's self estimation (Or estimations of others' levels) at face value. I like to determine that for myself.
That said, since we cannot simply "have a chat" so that I can observe your current level, maybe a self estimation (no matter how crude) is the first and only place to start.
So, if I may ask, what IS your current level?
[quote author=Chu]but it would be SO cool if one day we get to have SOTT in Chinese too, so keep it up, and maybe I'll catch up with you enough so that we can do it![/quote]
Which makes it all the more important that you network so that we can get there quicker!
I think the above also highlights the importance of language aquisituion in general, which makes me wonder if I should start posting more about the subject...
[quote author=Chu]I always wonder what the Chinese media are saying, and it's frustrating to see how little gets translated.[/quote]
Same here, although I am more stunned by the sheer lack of journalistic principles and practices here (In Taiwan anyway, I cannot speak for the Chinese media, though I have my suspicions it's just as dismal).
[quote author=Chu]So, what you are doing is a very good step.[/quote]
Much obliged, thank you for the encouragement.
[quote author=Chu]I would suggest not limiting yourself to The Wave, if one day you feel like translating or commenting on a news article, for example. It's all related anyway. And have fun too.[/quote]
I would, only... Well, correct me if I am wrong, but I'd go a step further than saying "it's all related", I'd say that the wave series constitutes the "Core" in what can be termed "a Sottist world of concepts", and that the various perspectives offered by Sott.net all spring forth from that source.
It's obviously more complicated than that, and I could go on, but am I on the right track here?
Therefore, wouldn't a commentary, say, offering a "Sottist" perspective, be lost on a mind that hasn't yet struggled internally against his old world of concepts for the new one, as fleshed out in the wave?
When we see comments written on Sott by people who, by writing what they do, clearly demonstrate a lack of this "Core knowledge", don't we refer them to the Wave so they can "get up to speed"?
Is the Wave what awakens one to conscience?
A while ago I lent "The sociopath next door", translated into Chinese, to my mother in law, and she liked the book, but said it didn't give her pragmatic advice on what to DO.
I puzzled over this for a while, then I realised that, the reason why the book hadn't helped her much is because she didn't use the information in the book to deconstruct her own memories/reflections/experiences and build them up again upon a newer, more objective foundation as laid out in the book.
Then, I stopped thinking about the subject matter of the book and focused on this act of metacognition, this "knowing about knowing". With certain books, it isn't enough to just read it, one has to reflect upon it deeply and sincerely, making new sense of one's own experiences, casting new light upon old memories.
I suspect that the degree of which one performs and refines this metacognitive skill is what determines how said materials changes one's life.
The nessesity for this organic process, and that very mental discipline itself, was, for me at least, seeded by the Wave, so what other work could be more important?
Maybe for now the fucus should be on translating the Wave, especially since it's just me and my wife doing this, but then, if/when the universe reacts in unexpected ways, then we should remain flexible and amend our positions?
Thank you again for the encouragement, it's much appreciated.
Robin
I always wonder what the Chinese media are saying, and it's frustrating to see how little gets translated. So, what you are doing is a very good step. I would suggest not limiting yourself to The Wave, if one day you feel like translating or commenting on a news article, for example. It's all related anyway. And have fun too.
