The version of "dragon", which has long been used to symbolize China's image, has become a focus of attention recently. Some experts have reportedly suggested stopping the use of the word "dragon" as the image of China so as to shun misconception in the West, for the version of dragon in English poses a colossus or a huge monster with an air of belligerency and domineering, and such an image would possibly fill any aliens who do not an adequate understanding of the Chinese history or culture, with some undue implications.

Much attention has been drawn to the issue at soon as the news was announced. A website survey discloses that 90 percent of the respondents are opposed to abandoning the word "dragon". Prof. Wu Yufu, a person involved in the survey, said he did not intend to abandon the image of dragon but wants of make it more intact, complete and meaningful. Meanwhile, some experts propose reinterpreting the version of "Chinese dragon" as "Long", "Loong" or "Liong".

In fact, the idea of renaming the "Chinese dragon" in English has been existent for a long time. The Chinese dragon, which had been expected to be chosen as the official mascots of the 29th Olympic Games, but failed nevertheless. The Beijing Olympic Committee later explained the reason for its failure is that its implications vary widely around the world, and experts said there is a world of difference between the dragon in English and its true meaning in Chinese.

Associate Professor Huang Ji from the Communication College of prestigious East China Normal University in Shanghai set up a website for the sake of renaming Chinese dragon, noted that there have all along differences in the academic field to translate "Long" in Chinese into "Dragon" in English. A dragon in pictures is a gigantic, evil demon with a colossus but dull body in dark grey color with a pair of huge wings to devour humans and beasts, whereas "Long" in China is salient with nine glad-tiding totems, including a deer's horn, a camel's head, a pair of large lobster-type eyes, a snake-shape body, a hawk's claws, a tiger's palms, and big ears of oxen covered with scales of carps scattered all over the body. It is an auspicious sign and a guarantee of propitious winds and rains for a good yield year.

While compiling the Concise English Encyclopedia in 1985, noted Taiwan scholar Meng Tian-hsiang recalled, there were two diametrically opposed versions with the entry of "Chinese Long", with one naming "Dragon", and the other titling "Long (Dragon)".

On the topic of renaming the Chinese dragon, there are differences in views among experts and scholars. The first view with a relatively high support rate favors the direct use of "Long" in phonetics or pinyin, which means lengthy in English and also reminds people of the image of dragon. The second view stands for the use of "Liong", which is close to the English word "lion" and can easily remind aliens of the dignity of lion. And Liong, or "Lion+g" represents harmony, courage, auspiciousness, powerfulness, dignity and holiness. The third view, which now has a higher degree of liability, is to interpret Chinese dragon into "Loong" with doubled "o" letters, which symbolize two eyes and has an implication of "being lengthy".

However, there are many people holding opposing ideas. Some netizens cite it as inappropriate for the Chinese to create or invent "English" words. If people do things outside their mandate, it is better for them to leave the error uncorrected and make the best of it.

Gong Wenxiang, a media professor from elite Beijing University acknowledged that the translation version of "Chinese dragon" has been around for so many years or decades, and actually there are no complete equivalents in the two different languages. Moreover, he said, the misconception of aliens will gradually vanish with their in-depth understanding of and increased acquaintance with the Chinese culture.

The attempt to change the English version of "Chinese dragon", said Prof. Gong, epitomizes that the Chinese people have begun paying attention to the image of their country in the mind of the people around the globe at a time when their country has been increasing and deepening exchanges with the outside world, and this is precisely a positive change.

By People's Daily online