我想我是一個認真的人，有時候到了嚴肅的地步。還記得剛入小學的第一課就是ㄅㄆㄇㄈ，老師說下週要考，可是一週過去了，我還沒全學會，急得不得了，回家就發燒了，媽媽還得幫我惡補。下星期老師竟然完全忘了考試這回事！而我至今餘悸猶存。
最近一位好友退休，她在嚴肅這件事上比我更勝一籌，在我們為她舉行的餐會中一絲不苟地討論未來生活的意義，我勸她不必急，不妨先混一混。李豐（寫《我賺了四十年》的那位台大醫師）在電話上聽了我的轉述，大笑道：「你混得怎樣？」我說：「不錯啊！」她卻不以為然：「我聽妳聲音就知道妳還是那樣，說話太快了！」幾十年來她一直勸我慢下來。慢才能品味生活，才能靜攬人生，才能修鍊身心。
不僅需要調整步調，我也想改變自己的寫作風格，輕鬆一點，閒適一點，更多一點生活，多一點感覺。渴望有自己的部落格，不被字數、時尚、市場、刊物風格、主編好惡綁住。大部分是為自己寫吧，也為了分享，至於未來，就交給上天了。
email: yenlinku@mail2000.com.tw
舊時王謝堂前燕，飛入尋常百姓家
＿
In the
early 20th century
the English word “radical” was translated to ”激進” in Chinese and
the term has been widely used ever since. As a
result, “radical feminism” was translated to ”激進女性主義” in the 1970s. However, when it came to the 1990s, Fu Da-wei, a male
history professor in Taiwan, argued that the translation should be switched to ”基進女性主義” , because the root of the English word “radical”
is “root”. ”基” (meaning “basic” and
”fundamental”) in Chinese implies that change should come from the bottom. Many
academics quickly replaced ”激進” with ”基進”. However, fundamentalism connotes a sense
of strict adherence to the literal interpretation of scripture.
In that case, ”基進” is poles apart from the critical
and revolutionary nature of ”激進”.
Furthermore, “基進”, a newly coined term, is unfamiliar to the majority of Chinese
readers. Some consider it a purely academic usage. On the other hand, “激進” is popular and easy to understand. With its
radical(部首) “water”,
“激” pictures the splash and
turbulence when fast flowing water runs into obstruction. The image of
splashing and turbulent water reminds me of the vigorous and passionate
struggle of the young feminists in the 1970s. Besides, “激進” also means complete and progressive changes.
A friend reminds me that
departing from the traditional Chinese attitude of taking the middle and
moderate way, “激進” measures
run the risk of inducing backlashes for being provocative. Strategically, it
would be safer to stick to “基進”. Yet, considering the prices many radical
feminists paid before us, I believe we have no reason to change to a safer
name.
In the older edition of
Feminisms,
“基進” was used.
After its publication, I chose to put the two terms together with a slash “激／基進” in my own writings. As the new edition of the
book is aimed to reach a larger audience, the original “激進” is restored. Say goodbye to “基進”.
導言 顧燕翎
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