Letters | Be proud of Chinese culture’s role in ‘dragon’ discourse

Readers discuss the meanings of the word ‘dragon’, the power of consensus, and the importance of Chinese language skills in Hong Kong work settings

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A child holds up a toy dragon in Shiqian county in China’s southwestern province of Guizhou on February 20. Chinese culture can be seen as influencing the English lexicon by adding new meanings to the word “dragon”. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 11:30am, 26 Feb 2024Updated: 4:06pm, 26 Feb 2024

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I am writing in response to your article, “The Year of the Loong? China’s dragons ‘are not’ the West’s ‘giant reptiles with wings’” (February 10). While it is true that the English word “dragon” can bring to mind winged serpentine creatures with a wicked nature, this was truer in the past, when the Western world had a meagre understanding of Chinese culture.

As China’s soft power grows, the West has become more acquainted with Chinese culture. Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatowns overseas, Chinese food outlets and Hollywood films such as Mulan and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings have brought Chinese tales and customs to the world. Even people who have never visited China can tell Chinese and Western dragons apart when the discourse in question pertains to Chinese culture.

In this sense, Chinese culture can be seen as influencing the English lexicon by adding new meanings to the word “dragon”. There is no need for the less prominent loong to be used. Indeed, carrying on with “dragon” would be an example of our cultural confidence.

Anson Chan, Guangzhou

In these heated times, language and consensus matter

It was with great interest that I read the article, “How Unesco’s International Mother Language Day recognises the critical link between language and sustainable development” (February 17).