Lecture by Professor Prof. Joël Bellassen
The Poetic Function of Chinese Characters A Case Study of Hanzi
This lecture applies Roman Jakobson's concept of the poetic function of language to Chinese characters (Hanzi), highlighting how meaning is shaped not only by content but also by form.
The poetic function of Chinese writing is most evident in its aesthetic dimension, which enables it to go beyond a purely linguistic tool and become a medium of cultural memory and artistic expression. From calligraphy and wordplay to inscriptions in landscapes, paper-cutting, and ground calligraphy, Hanzi demonstrate rich and diverse forms of poetic expression.
This distinctive feature of Chinese writing not only reflects the depth of Chinese culture, but also offers valuable insights into the relationship between language, thought, and culture. It further provides important perspectives on learner motivation in Chinese language education.
Speaker
Prof. Joël Bellassen is the First Inspector General for Chinese Language Education at the French Ministry of Education and a
doctoral supervisor at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO). He is also the first President
of the European Association for Chinese Language Teaching and former Vice President of the International Society for
Chinese Language Teaching.
He is the founder and Honorary President of the French Association of Chinese Language Teachers, and formerly led the
development of the national Chinese language curriculum in France, including teacher certification standards and national
assessment systems.
He has edited over 40 academic monographs and published more than 140 scholarly articles, and has developed MOOCs such as Introductory Chinese and Dongba Script. He has received numerous honours, including the Chinese Language and Culture Friendship Award (2003) and national distinctions from France.
This promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking event. No booking required, all welcome!
The lecture will be opened by Prof. Li Li, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global), Newcastle University.
Host: Professor Yuxiao Su, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Newcastle University.
Please note: The lecture will be delivered in Chinese. Simultaneous interpreting (Chinese–English) will be provided by students from the School of Modern Languages. Audience members who wish to use this service are kindly invited to submit a request via a Microsoft Form (QR code available on the event poster).