There
were more than twenty papers presented, which focussed on a variety of topics
such as language exchanges between the Europeans in Macau and Guangzhou. The
rise of the international trade in Guangzhou led to the gradual development
of a "business language" commonly called "Pidgin English")
that was actually made up of a blend of many different European languages.
Some papers and discussants emphasized the importance of Macau's role in the
region during the early years of the establishment of trade. Macau not only
formed precedence for the establishment of the trade, but many Chinese were
recruited from Macau, who could communicate with the foreigners in Portuguese.
Shop keepers, artisans, craftsmen, pilots, and numerous servants and laborers,
were also attracted to the two ports.
"Symposium
on Ling Nan Culture and Macau"
MSLF
helped to organize and was an active participant in the "Symposium on Ling
Nan Culture and Macau" that was held in Zhongshan on 20-21 May 2000. The
meeting was attended by more than 40 scholars from Macau, Guangzhou, Zhongshan,
and Jiangxi. Papers presented at the symposium were devoted to cultural interaction
and exchanges between Ling Nan, Macau, and the outside world. The Symposium
was attended by MSLF's Ambrose So, Prof. K.C. Fok, Gary Ngai, Paul Van Dyke,
and Florence Ho.
Zhongshan:
May 2000
Other
participants pointed out that not all of the interactions were positive for
the region, as smuggling, corruption, and opium consumption increased. Other
papers focussed on religious influences, education, literature, art, science,
medicine, and economic exchanges. From the many papers that were presented and
topics that were discussed, an overall theme emerged that made strong connections
to the inclusion of Macau in the study and understanding of the history of the
region, for the past four hundred years.
