The Chinese word weiji (危機 translated as "crisis") is often said to be composed of the characters for "danger" and "opportunity"; the implication being that in Chinese culture, a crisis is regarded not merely as a danger, but also as an opportunity. A Chinese character, also known as a Han character ( is a Logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi Japanese ( The Culture of China (traditional Chinese 中國文化 simplified Chinese 中国文化 is home to one of the world's oldest and most complex Civilizations covering a history This is a misconception or etymological fallacy. For examples see Common misconceptions. A misconception happens when a person believes in a Concept which is objectively The etymological fallacy holds erroneously that the original or historical meaning of a word or phrase is necessarily similar to its actual present-day meaning In fact, wei (危) does mean "danger, dangerous; endanger, jeopardize; perilous; precipitous, precarious; high; fear, afraid", but the polysemous ji (機) means "machine, mechanical; airplane; suitable occasion; crucial point; pivot; incipient moment; opportune, opportunity; chance; key link; secret; cunning". Polysemy ( or) (from the Greek πολυσημεία = "multiple meaning" is the capacity for a sign (e While the word jihui (機會) means "opportune, opportunity" in modern Chinese, its ji component has many meanings, of which "opportunity" is only one. In weiji (危機), ji means "crucial point", not "opportunity". [1]
Origins
Mark Liberman traces the history of weiji in English back to an anonymous editorial in a journal[2] for missionaries in China. Mark Liberman is an American linguist. He has a dual appointment at the University of Pennsylvania, as Trustee Professor of Phonetics in the Department [3] The use of the term gained momentum when John F. Kennedy delivered a speech in Indianapolis on April 12, 1959:
- When written in Chinese the word crisis is composed of two characters. John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of
- One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity. [4]
Kennedy employed this trope routinely in his speeches, and it was then appropriated by Richard M. Nixon and others. The usage has been adopted by business consultants and motivational speakers and has gained great popularity in universities and in the popular press. For example, in 2007, Condoleezza Rice repeated the misunderstanding during Middle East peace talks, [5] and Al Gore did so in testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee,[6] and in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. Condoleezza Rice (born November 14 1954 is the 66th United States Albert Arnold Gore Jr (born March 31 1948 is an American environmental Activist, author Businessperson, former Politician, and former The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. The US House Commerce Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the U The Nobel Peace Prize ( Swedish, Danish and Nobels fredspris is one of five Nobel Prizes Bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor [7]
There is an undeniable appeal to the misappropriation of weiji. It is dramatic in its compression; in two syllables it offers inherent proof of the opportunity hidden within every crisis. This presumed oriental wisdom is used to communicate the inspirational notion that a crisis should be a time of optimism by erroneously deconstructing weiji (crisis) as wei (danger) and ji (opportunity). However, we can question ourselves, is not the meaning of 'crucial point' and 'opportunity' somewhat similar?
(We can answer ourselves 'only if you're an idiot', since all opportunities may be crucial points, but not all crucial points are opportunities. )
Popular culture
The nonce word crisitunity was used in the "Fear of Flying" episode of The Simpsons[8]. A nonce word is a Word used only "for the nonce "—to meet a need that is not expected to recur " Fear of Flying " is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons ' sixth season. Lisa says, "Look on the bright side, Dad. Did you know that the Chinese use the same word for 'crisis' as they do for 'opportunity'?" Homer replies, "Yes! Cris-atunity. " Although The Simpsons Archive spells this portmanteau "cris-atunity",[9] "crisitunity" is more commonly used. The Simpsons Archive, better known as snppcom or simply SNPP (named for the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant) is a Simpsons fan site that has been online
Footnotes and references
- ^ Crisis" Does NOT Equal "Danger" Plus "Opportunity": How a misunderstanding about Chinese characters has led many astray, Victor H. Mair, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature,University of Pennsylvania
- ^ Chinese Recorder (January 1938, "The Challenge of Unusual Times")
- ^ Language Log, March 27, 2007
- ^ Remarks by President Kennedy at the Convocation of the United Negro College Fund
- ^ Kessler, Glenn. Victor H Mair (born 1943 is Professor of Chinese Language and Literature in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at the The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn) is a private University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The United Negro College Fund ( UNCF) is a Fairfax, Virginia -based American philanthropic organization that fundraises College tuition "Rice Highlights Opportunities After Setbacks On Mideast Trip", The Washington Post, January 19, 2007, p. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. A14. Retrieved on 2007-12-12. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian
- ^ Testimony of Honorable Al Gore
- ^ Gore, Al (2007-12-10). Albert Arnold Gore Jr (born March 31 1948 is an American environmental Activist, author Businessperson, former Politician, and former Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Al Gore: The Nobel Peace Prize 2007: Nobel Lecture. Nobel Foundation. The Nobel Foundation (Nobelstiftelsen is a private institution founded on 29 June 1900 to manage the finances and administration of the Nobel Prizes. Retrieved on 2007-12-12. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian
- ^ April 26th, 2006 edition of The A.V. Club
- ^ 2F08 Fear of Flying, an episode summary from The Simpsons Archive fansite
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