Ink & Quill

In China, if you asked a random pedestrian about what the hardest language to

learn is, I bet a great number of them would proudly point out that Chinese

outplays the rest. Well, the answer may sound a little bit like a

nationalistic bombast. But in fact, linguistic-wise, there is some truth to this

patriotic sentiment. According to American linguist David Moser, Chinese

language has enjoyed an "Everest-like status" to native English speakers, due to

its complex writing system and distinctive tone patterns. Yet Swedish

sinologist Cecilia Lindqvist is not afraid to tear down the formidable Great

Wall of the Chinese language. As the author of the internationally acclaimed

book, "China: Empire of Living Symbols", she traces the development of Chinese

writing signs and helps readers to memorize those once-obscure characters.

Meanwhile her other book, Qin(琴), effortlessly bridges the moderns with a

three-thousand-year-old Chinese musical instrument. In 2016, this

versatile scholar received the Special Book Award of China, the country's top

literary prize bestowed to foreign writers. In this podcast, we learn Professor Lindqvist's story and enjoy some beautiful melodies.

For any historical fiction writer looking for inspiration, China in the first half of the 20th century is a gold mine of ideas. This period includes the downfall of the once-mighty Qing Dynasty and its short-lived restoration and the birth and the final success of the Chinese revolution. It is a time-period filled with unpredictable conflicts and soul-touching human stories. From the prominent Chinese author Eileen Chang to British novelist Adam Williams, many have penned tales about that turbulent age. Yet few of them could fill a particular void like Janie Chang did, who examines racism and identity struggle in her latest book, Dragon Springs Road.

American sci-fi thriller Arrival has finally arrived in China. In this podcast, Shiyu and Lincoln discuss the movie and its original source material, which is an award-winning short story written by sci-fi author Ted Chiang.

As people enjoy the festive gaiety worldwide, there are times when we want to shake off the frolic and keep to ourselves. So why not lay back, pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy some good readings? In this podcast, our reporters will share with you some of their book

picks of the year. Let's hear them out.

From J. M. Coetzee's "Disgrace" to Nadine Gordimer's "My Son's Story", South

African literature has found a small foothold in China.

Yet few books from the Rainbow Nation lay out the conflict between the

apartheid state and the armed wing of African National Congress, the driving

force behind the liberation movement.

Multi-award winning writer Mandla Langa has decided to set this right. In today's podcast, we talk to Mr Langa about the story behind his latest novel, The Texture of Shadows.

The gaming arena and literary world may sound like two irrelevant territories. But in recent years, video games and books started to become intimate companions. Listen to this podcast for more.

Besides family photos, selfies, and pictures of cute babies, what else should we share on social media? Also, we will investigate the mechanism behind China's swelling fan economy.

Science fiction is always on the frontier of infinite possibilities. So in this podcast, we will delve deep into the past, present and possible future of this awe-inspiring literary genre.

As the ghost festival falls, it's high time to feel the chill. In order to keep up with the ghoulish spirit of the season, in today's program, we will introduce you to some spine-tingling tales that may keep you awake at night.

In this edition, let's embark on the journey of mysteries as we look at a secret pharmacist who seeks immortality, a horrifying murder of an English woman and the latest Harry Potter story.