On the afternoon of May 22, 2024, the 63rd Session of Zijin Lecture, was held successfully at Rm. 201 of East Building 5, by the School of International Studies, Zhejiang University. The lecture, entitled “The Rise of Complexity Science System and the Future of Linguistics” was delivered by Prof. SHI Yuzhi from the National University of Singapore, and moderated by Prof. SHAO Bin from School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, attracting many students and teachers from both within and outside the university.
At first, Prof. SHI reviewed the development history of complexity science system, focusing on the theories of “Stanford Complexity Group” and the implications of shifts in scientific thought for linguistic research.
Prof. SHI then introduced the ten characteristics of complex systems: openness, regularity, asymmetry, adaptability, evolution, heterogeneity, self-organization, nonlinearity, network connectivity, and emergence.
Prof. SHI then elaborated on the five major characteristics of language systems, including: (1) Openness: Language must be an open system, exchanging energy and information with the external environment. (2) Regularity: The internal operations of the language system must be governed by rules. (3) Asymmetry: There exists asymmetry within the language system. (4) Adaptability: Natural selection and survival of the fittest. (5) Evolution: As an adaptive system, language inherently possesses evolutionary traits. He illustrated these characteristics with specific linguistic phenomena, such as verb-complement structures, passive markers, aspect markers, and word order, demonstrating how these features manifest themselves in language.
Prof. SHI also speculated on the possible trends in linguistic research over the next 20 years, suggesting that changes in scientific thought will call for the birth of new linguistic ideas. Future research will focus more on viewing individuals within the context of the larger language system and examining specific phenomena within this broader framework. He also predicted that the methodology of Chinese language research will undergo transformations to be adapted to the research paradigms of complexity science.
Afterward, Prof. SHI presented his new book, The Evolution of Chinese Grammar, published by Cambridge University Press, to the School of International Studies and engaged in interactive discussion with the audience for over an hour. Attendees asked questions about the translation of concepts related to complexity system theory, the manifestations of self-organization and decentralization, the relationship between usage and grammar, and how complexity system theory can guide technological applications. Prof. SHI patiently answered each question. Finally, Prof. SHAO Bin summarized the lecture, noting that Prof. SHI’s insights were profound and thought-provoking, providing new perspectives and research methods for linguistic studies.
Photos: CAI Yingying, WU Jianhong
Text: CHEN Zenan
Revised by: SHAO Bin
Institute of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Zhejiang University
Translated by JI Yan, proofread by XU Xueying
