2０２０年的語言演變
　
社會動盪、全球的緊張局勢持續升級，身為讀者與消費者的我們在面臨不斷湧入的資訊時，必須意識到那些在宣傳（propaganda）中刻意含糊其詞（intentional ambiguity）的情況日益加劇。
　
在政治場域裡，我們看到「雙言巧語」（doublespeak）正在增加，這種語言刻意掩蓋、扭曲或顛倒語意。喬治・歐威爾（George Orwell，1903－1950）於其名著《１９８４》中以「新語」（Newspeak）和「雙重思想」（doublethink）說明此一詞彙。 新語雖遵循著英文語法，但詞彙量卻不斷減少，原本複雜而完整的詞意不斷被簡化為既定觀點的詞語（loaded words）。社群網站的興起，助長了媒體與政治人物對「雙言巧語」的使用。例如，在政治語境中，先制的空中打擊（preemptive airstrikes）可被稱為「降溫策略」（de-escalation tactics），以為和平鋪路。又比如，有些針對特定種族的集中營（internment camps）被稱為教育與訓練中心（vocational education and training centers）。
　
歐威爾還創造了「雙重思想」一詞，意指受試者被迫接受兩種自相矛盾的信念是正確的。該意識形態的三個核心教義為——「戰爭即和平」（war is peace）、「自由即奴役」（freedom is slavery）以及「無知即力量」（ignorance is strength）。這些教條是否讓你聯想到世上那些極權政府（totalitarian regimes）的宣傳？
　
由於嚴厲的審查制度，以及相關法規的懲處機制，人們不斷發明新的詞彙來躲避演算法的審查，並以間接言語行為（indirect speech act）來表達自身觀點。在中國最廣為人知的諧音詞 (homophone) 就是——「河蟹」。「河蟹」是對中國前國家主席胡錦濤「和諧社會」倡議的一種嘲諷。該倡議試圖打壓異議，而「河蟹」的語音則近於「和諧」。起初，網民嘲諷政府的審查員藉由刪除貼文來「和諧」網路上的異議人士。最終，「被和諧」一詞遂演變為「被河蟹」，以規避政府的審查，並被許多中國的網路社群廣泛使用。
　
如今，以此類方式來規避審查 (evade censorship) 已變得更為普遍。按美國實驗心理學家、認知科學家兼科普作家史迪芬・平克（Steven Arthur Pinker）於２００８年所指出者，間接言語行為係指人們未明確表達自身觀點，反而將其意圖隱藏在字面意義之下。在間接言語行為的脈絡中，唯有說話者才能確定其意涵（individual knowledge），而他人則須依靠前後文來仔細推敲。但若單就字面意思 (literal meaning) 來看，每個人都能輕易地理解該詞意涵（mutual knowledge）。例如，在極權政府治下，於網路上公開批評政府對公衛危機的處理不當，將引來相關法律的制裁，因為可能會被人舉報。但也可藉由讚揚「政府的行動非常有效，連死者都要感謝政府的辛勤付出」來間接表達自己的不滿。這種誇張的說法顯然與事實不符，但只有說話者知曉個中意涵，而他人只能自行揣測，這為說話者提供了一定程度的保障。因此，隨著審查制度的擴大，間接言語行為亦將蓬勃發展，以滿足自由交流與表達自身觀點的需求。
　
身為網路公民的我們能做些什麼？對宣傳中那些試圖掩蓋並扭曲真相的語言，保持警覺；持續創造新的表達方式，來規避那些箝制思想與言論自由的審查；提醒自己進行批判性思考，以辨識邏輯謬誤並做出明智的決定。
　
參考資料：

Huaxia. (2019, August 16). Full Text: Vocational Education and Training in Xinjiang. Retrieved July 04, 2020, from http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/16/c_138313359.htm

McManus, D. (2020, January 05). Column: Trump's Orwellian doublespeak on Iran. Retrieved July 04, 2020, from https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-05/column-trumps-orwellian-double-speak-on-iran

Minin-White, D. (2017). Political Speech, Doublespeak, And Critical-Thinking Skills In American Education.

Monitor, I. (2018, June 21). The Chinese Language as a Weapon: How China's Netizens Fight Censorship. Retrieved July 04, 2020, from https://medium.com/berkman-klein-center/the-chinese-language-as-a-weapon-how-chinas-netizens-fight-censorship-8389516ed1a6

Orwell, George (2008). 1984. Penguin Books Ltd. ISBN 978-0-14-103614-4.

Pinker, S., Nowak, M. A., & Lee, J. J. (2008). The logic of indirect speech. Proceedings of the National Academy of sciences, 105(3), 833-838.

圖片出處：https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/ingsoc

★★★★★★★★★★★★

什麼是模糊性（ambiguity），為什麼學生需要它？
https://bit.ly/31I6B9T

《光明之心旺渡猴年》
To A Fortuitous Year of The Monkey (English version below)

很多很多的人，都對自己的命運，或來年的運程抱著一種「先睹為快」的心理。吾，玳瑚師父認為，這是可以理解的。問題是在於，妳你知道了妳你的命運，或來年的運程後，妳你可曉得，如何趨吉避凶、扭轉乾坤、反敗為勝嗎？又或者增旺自己的運勢，使之好上加好呢？還是「先睹為快」後，淒淒慘慘，慘慘淒淒呢？若然是這樣的話，妳你就得歸類迷信者了哦！

生肖屬猴、虎、豬、蛇者，請向妳你自己的師父（若有的話），請示要如何安奉當年太歲星君，以保流年身心、身體健康、事業順心、家庭合樂、道心堅固、智慧增長、投資安穩、大事化小、小事化無等等。一般人都不會及較少，在家中安奉當年太歲星君。因此，可到有供奉六十位太歲星君的廟宇拜太歲及點光明燈。禮拜太歲星君時，除了獻上供品、蠟燭紙金以外，千萬要記得虔心稱呼，值年的太歲星君啊！歲次丙申太歲星君叫管仲，在拜太歲時，妳你就虔心稱呼祂為「丙申年管仲太歲星君」，這樣妳你才真真正正，拜到那一位值年的太歲星君。

接下來就讓玳瑚師父，為妳你們「紙上談運」吧！生肖屬猴的妳你，在這猴年裡，凡事要加以忍耐、忍讓，退一步才可以海闊天空，且莫食喪家之物、送葬出殯宜避之、夜間場所勿流連、對於年邁的長者或親屬，應多加關懷與關注，她他們的身、心發展，以免真的給玳瑚師父「說中了」，妳你也不必對著她他們唱： 我是不是妳你最疼愛的人，妳你為什麼不說話？哈....! 若妳你正打算「東家不打，打西家」的話，吾勸妳你待明年再說吧！喜歡投資的妳你，則要小心陰溝裡翻船哦！今年應該不圖非份，「萬事如意」才可能在妳你身上應驗。

生肖屬虎的妳你，請勿暴飲暴食哦！不食喪家之物，也勿「自告奮勇」的奔喪，以免累己累人。今年家中乃「多事之秋」，心情忐忑不安、情緒波動，再所難免。但，還是要把家中長者照顧好，或許可免喪神入屋。今年亦是妳你忙碌的一年，轉工、搬家、旅遊，流年中必應驗，要不然就應驗在跌倒哦！請多加注意足下的「工具」，是否是良好的「狀況」。一切宜守不宜攻。

生肖屬豬的妳你，在六親眷屬的關係方面，應多加關注，敢敢做個有愛心的人，自然就能歡度此猴年了。工作、事業與投資，應按部就班地進行，風險自然化小。婚姻及感情生活，祗要不要執著一個「我」字，也就會融洽了。

至於生肖屬蛇的妳你，身邊的親人、愛人、朋友等等，有可能會「突然間不見掉」。真心誠意的對待與珍惜，是唯一的安撫靈藥。再加上「不在乎天長地久，祗在乎曾經擁有」這句「名言」，那就更能夠釋懷了。

其實犯太歲，並不祗是人而已。妳你的宅地的坐山及向首，妳你的公司，妳你的辦工桌，妳你家中的書桌、床位，每個隔間，都可能是在太歲的位置上，因此也就犯了太歲。無論是老、中、少或幼（嬰孩），犯之意外連連，生病破財是小事，不慎連命也陪了，對一般人而言，就非小事了。不妨禮請一位妳你信得過的師父，為妳你及家人，規劃妳你居家的風水，擁抱妳你生命中美好的每一天，根本無需提心吊膽、戰戰兢兢地過日子。若妳你從來都沒找過任何師父勘察妳你居家的風水，那就在今年吧！給妳你及家人，生命中最大的禮物，而且是最愛的禮物，來個「水濂洞中勝樂大，花果山上年年好」。猴塞磊（廣東話），哈....！快樂得不得了。

吾，玳瑚師父，在此溫馨提醒哦！在立春來臨前，就好去拜太歲了哦！可別等或拖到清明，或農曆七月才去拜哦！因為這兩個節日，是讓人們上山掃墓祭祖，及拜俗稱的「好兄弟」的哦！若立春妳你所謂的錯過了，可請妳你信得過的師父，依妳你的生辰四柱，在農曆初一至十五日間，擇吉日良辰去拜太歲，那是很棒的拜太歲法之一。祝：大家「猴塞磊」哈....！

相信大家對「近水樓臺先得月」這句話，應該不會太陌生吧！如果妳你還是有些陌生的話，那「投其所好」，應該有聽聞過了吧！如果還是陌生的話，那看來妳你真的是....。丙申年管仲太歲星君，乃是位熱愛行善、佈施、教育、為善不落人後的神明。因此，妳你若要祂特別「注意」、「守護」、「關照」妳你的話，今年妳你就要比往年，更積極、更勤勞地行種種善，打個比方說；放生戒殺、助印、印施善書、開口勸善、捐錢建寺廟、撥款振災、關注及協助社會不幸的一群，等等。

天天做，天天增。增什麼？增福增慧、增資糧。當中也含蓋了改善命運的利益，天天不計較時間、不計較金錢、不計較體力、不計較工作量的多寡，持之以恆地做下去，很快的就會產生一種力量，無與倫比的力量，可改命可改運。反之，存有計較的心，那妳你所做的，就不能、也無法產生光明。沒有光明之心的「善行」，就不可能「投其所好」，妳你的心和太歲星君的心，始終扣不上，今年妳你諸多的願，就變成了天馬行空。什麼意思？泡湯了！

-------------------------

There are countless number of people who cannot wait to take a "sneak preview" into their future. Master Dai Hu thinks that this mentality is not without reasons. The problem lies in this: after you have had a glimpse of what your destiny hold, or what would be your fortunes in this coming year, would you know how to usher in the good luck and evade the bad ones? Would you know how to turn a disastrous situation around and emerge as the eventual winner? Or would you be able to ride on the waves of good fortune for an even better outcome? Would it be the case that after you had known what lies ahead, that you fall into depression and self-pity? If this is true for you, then I would say you belong to the category of superstitious people!

For those of you born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the Monkey, Tiger, Pig and Snake, please seek advice from your Master, if you do have one, on how to seek blessings from the Grand Duke of Jupiter of the year to ensure well-being in your physical and emotional health, career, family and investments, faith in your spiritual cultivation, growth in wisdom, and that the magnitude of all disasters be minimized or reduced to none. Most people do not or rarely worships the Grand Duke of Jupiter at home. So you can visit temples that enshrine the 60 Dukes of Jupiter to pay your respect and make a light offering. When you are paying respect to the Duke of Jupiter, with the offerings, candles and joss papers, please remember to address Him with all your sincerity and faith. In the coming Lunar year of the Fire Monkey, the Grand Duke of Jupiter is addressed as "Guan Zhong". You should formally address Him as the "Grand Duke of Jupiter of the Fire Monkey Year, Guan Zhong". In this way, you can be sure that your prayer goes to the correct Grand Duke of Jupiter.

Now please allow Master Dai Hu to talk about your fortunes, on paper at least! If you are born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the Monkey, please exercise more tolerance in the coming year of the Monkey. Taking a step back will often lead to clear skies. Please do not consume any food from anyone with recently-deceased family members, and refrain from attending funerals and funeral processions. Stay away from places of leisure which operate in the night time.

For the elderly at home, please watch out and show concern for their health and mental well-being as Master Dai Hu does not want to be spot on with his words. I am sure you would not want to be singing, "Am I not the one you loved most? Why are you not talking to me?" Ha!

If you have any thought of changing employer, I would advise you to hold off the plan for another year. For those of you who love to invest, please exercise caution so as not to get caught out by unexpected situations! Do not go after wild ambitions this year so that you can have a smooth and fulfilling year ahead.

For those born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the Tiger, refrain from overeating! Do not consume food from anyone with recently-deceased family members, and avoid any misguided bravery in attending funerals. This will bring harm to yourself and others around you. Unavoidably, this year is going to be a season of troubled times, often with plenty of unease and emotional upheavals. However, please take extra care of the elderly at home to ward off any visit by the Angel of Death. This is a very hectic year for you with plenty of activities in your career moves, change of residences, as well as travels. If these things do not happen, the year's fortune will take on another appearance: you will risk suffering from falls! So please inspect your footwear to ensure they are in good condition! Every plan this year should be set to defensive mode, instead of invasive.

For those born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the Pig, please treat your relationships with your family and kin with extra care, and be bold to shower more love towards them, so that the Year of the Monkey will be a happy journey for you. As for your career and investment, do not deviate from your plans so as to minimize your risks. In your marriage and relationships, let go of the notion of "self", and all will be nice and harmonious.

As for those of you born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the Snake, your family relations, your lover and friends, etc, may "suddenly disappear" from your life. The only way to seek comfort from this is to treat them sincerely and cherish the affinities with them. Remember this famous saying, "It may not last forever, but at least you had the moments. " and you will come to a closure with it.

In actual fact, it is not only human beings that come into conflict with the Grand Duke of the Jupiter. Your residence, specifically its sitting and facing directions, your office premises, your work desk, your study desk at home, your bed, and every individual room can be in conflict with the Grand Duke of Jupiter. No matter your age, even if you are a baby, you will encounter accidents, illness, and loss of wealth if you are in conflict with the Grand Duke of Jupiter. But these are small matters. In more serious cases, your life may be in danger.

There is no harm to engage a Feng Shui Master whom you can trust to conduct a Feng Shui audit at your home, for the sake of your family and yourself. Embrace every beautiful day in your life. There is no need to live each day in trepidation and fear. If you have not engaged any Feng Shui master for your home before, make it this year! Let this be your perfect gift to yourself and your family, a gift of great significance and love, and create a haven of bliss and years of prosperity! Ha! How joyous that will be!

Master Dai Hu would like to sound out a gentle reminder: please pay your respect to the Grand Duke of Jupiter before Li Chun, the beginning of Spring. Do not wait until the Qing Ming Festival or the Lunar Seventh Month before you fulfill this important task. The Qing Ming Festival and the Lunar Seventh Month are meant for paying respects to our ancestors and the wandering spirits, commonly known as the "good brothers"! If you had missed the Li Chun date, you may request a Master you can trust to select an auspicious date and time, based on your birth chart, to pay your respect to the Grand Duke of Jupiter any time between the First Day and the Fifteenth Day of the First Lunar Month. This is an excellent way to pay your respect to the Grand Duke of Jupiter. I wish everybody an awesome Year of the Monkey!

The Grand Duke of Jupiter, Guan Zhong, for the Year of the Fire Monkey, is a God who is passionate about performing virtuous deeds, generous giving, education and always the first in line when it comes to kind deeds. Therefore, if you would like Him to take notice of you, to protect and take care of you, you should therefore be more enthusiastic and diligent than the years before to perform virtuous deeds. For examples, refrain from killing lives, liberate lives, sponsor the printing and distribution of virtuous books, speak to encourage virtuous behaviour, donate to build temples and towards disaster relief funds, show care and give assistance for the less fortunate, etc.

Consistent action on a daily basis yields consistent gains. What do you gain? Your merits, fortunes, wisdom and resources increase. In the midst of this lies the enormous benefit of altering your destiny for the better. Do not be calculative in your time, money, bodily effort, and volume of work. Press on day by day, consistently, and soon, you will witness the emergence of a powerful force that is unprecedented, one that can turn your life and fortune around! On the other hand, if you live with a calculative mindset, all that you have done will not invoke the radiant Light, without which your supposedly virtuous deeds can never be aligned with the Grand Duke of Jupiter. Ultimately, there is still a distance between your heart and His, and your many wishes and hopes for this year are just a figment of your imagination. What do I mean by that? I mean you can kiss your dreams goodbye!

www.masterdaihu.com/to-a-fortuitous-year-of-the-monkey/