向先聖哲人學習說話技巧：從暢銷書觀察台灣文化的轉型
Learning Speaking Skills from Our Ancient Philosophers: Transformation of Taiwanese Culture as Observed from Popular Books
作者
張惠晶
Chang, Hui-Ching
中文摘要
英文摘要
Definitions and contents of interpersonal communication have undergone significant change in modern Taiwan, as can be observed from the production of an ever-increasing number of popular books. These books promise quick success, so long as one can master the speaking skills they teach and jettison the old-fashioned, reserved, humble, other-oriented style that characterizes much of traditional Chinese culture. However, unlike translators of foreign texts who advocate the need to learn speaking skills from other cultures, editors and authors of books by Chinese natives frequently advise their readers to appreciate and integrate speaking skills said to be employed by ancient Chinese philosophers, politicians, and others, into their modern lives. Through such rhetorical efforts, these popular media reconstruct the past--"the Chinese cultural traditions"--not as something to be discarded, but as a guide for the future, and thus a potential solution the seeming struggle between modernity and tradition. This paper traces the development of popular books during 1994-1998, analyzing selected popular books written by Chinese to examine how Chinese authors fashion their own unique discourse about communication to challenge and supplement extra-cultural ideas introduced by translated popular books.