編按：收到兩位在美國的「中大人」，他們要求In-media刊登他們的信件，回應中大教學語言爭議。
雖然這場爭議似乎暫時平息，這兩封信的觀點早前早已有人提及，並不新鮮，但也許我們可以從他們的信中，了解一下一些早期「中大人」的語言觀及世界觀（不管你是反對還是認同他們的看法）。
I read the article which is written by the CU students recently, I totally disagree with it. I am an earlier graduates of CU. I came to US for graduate studies In 1967. I graduated from City University of NY with my PH.D in 1974. I did my post doctoral research fellow studies in Case Western Reserve University. I joined
Northrop GrummanCorporation in 1978 as an research scientist to develop the Stealth Technologies for the new B2 bomber, fighters and missiles until I retired in 1999 as a Senior Technical Specialist. I was sent to Michigan University Graduate School for IR technologies and Caltech for System Engineering Program studies during my services for the company. I
had worked not only in USA defence industry, also the NY City Government, California Los Angle County Education Office, the Chemical Bank of NY and the Motefeior Hospital of Albert Einstein Medical School too. My children are the assistant professors of NYU Medical School, and Mont Sinai Medical Schools in NYC
now.
I am a retired American citizen, but I am still a CU alumni. CU students misunderstand the true meaning of the name of "Chinese University" in this article. I still remembered what our Chung Chi College President, Dr, Yung Kai-Tung, told us at the time the university was found, that The "Chinese University" does not mean; it is a Chinese University in the sense of Chinese literature. It is simply because it was founded by the Chinese Scholars and the societies. He
said that an university is an institute in broader sense of studies for all aspects of knowledge, any languages that can be used for the effective communication of learning can be used. When I was in Chung Chi College of CU, the most difficult subject for us was the English, it is only a two credits course,but had 6 hours of classes in one week. Dr. Yung said that if our CU students were not good in English, the CU students will never be competitive in Hong Kong, not even mentioned in the world. During my whole careers in USA, the biggest handicap in my academic training is English. Our CU president has the vision of the world, I don't want to see our CU students like a community college students.
Wyman Wun
Alumus
Physics
Chung Chi College,
CUHK
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Dear CUHK friends,
Language is a vehicle to learning and gaining
knowledge. English has become a standardized international language, not because the English speaking countries want to discriminate non-English speaking countries, but because of the need to have a standardized international language. Just like in Europe, French is a standardized international language besides English.
We are not here to discuss historical and political backgrounds to what language should emerge as the standardized language.
I think one of the missions of the CUHK should be to preserve and continue the Chinese traditions.
CUHK also has the responsibilities of training its graduates for international competition, not to shield them and isolate them from the global reality. For CUHK to be a world class university, the point here is not for CUHK students to abandon the Chinese language, sharpening the English language skills is
just as important as keeping the Chinese language skills.
Catherine Lee
Alumnas, Los Angeles,
English Dept.
Chung Chi College,
CUHK