When scientific research began in early twentieth-century China,a key issue was the acquisition of reliable empirical information through objective and precise observations.This article examines a specific case where ...When scientific research began in early twentieth-century China,a key issue was the acquisition of reliable empirical information through objective and precise observations.This article examines a specific case where a scientist grappled with such an issue:the linguist Chao Yuen Ren’s application of mechanical means in his phonetic studies.In the 1920s–1930s,Chao conducted a series of field and lab studies on the dialects in southern and central China.In contrast to traditional scholars’exclusive reliance on sharp ears and rhyme books,Chao employed mechanical devices to inscribe and analyze the spectrographs of dialectical tones and used phonographs to record the articulations of his subjects.It is demonstrated that Chao’s machines not only provided a new method of observation;they also altered the theoretical understanding of certain fundamental categories in Chinese phonology,such as tones.Moreover,Chao did not aim to replace human perception with automatic mechanisms in empirical investigations.Rather,the use of machines in his research called for an active and engaged scientific persona.展开更多
20世纪初,人类学家伯特霍尔德·劳弗(Berthold Laufer, 1874—1934)参与“雅各布·希夫中国考察项目”(The Jacob Schiff China Expedition;1901-1904),三年间走遍中国东部,于上海、北京等地录制502枚蜡筒,内容包括戏曲、器乐...20世纪初,人类学家伯特霍尔德·劳弗(Berthold Laufer, 1874—1934)参与“雅各布·希夫中国考察项目”(The Jacob Schiff China Expedition;1901-1904),三年间走遍中国东部,于上海、北京等地录制502枚蜡筒,内容包括戏曲、器乐、民歌等音乐体裁,并计划将录音译谱出版。劳弗蜡筒目前多保存于美国传统音乐档案馆,2017年印第安纳大学采用尼古拉斯·伯格(Nicholas Bergh)设计的蜡筒播放系统,开始数字化工作。劳弗在录制一首作品时大多同时使用两台留声机分别撷取人声、乐声,然受限其时未有标准录制转速,故音频工程师需校准每组蜡筒音频的播放速度,匹配两份音档乐句位置,并平衡两台留声机马达出现的颤动现象,经修复后的音档出现了近似于立体声的音响效果。而劳弗蜡筒录音时间虽较穆麟德(Paul Georg von M9llendorff)晚,但后者录制内容为诗集朗诵。因此,劳弗蜡筒明确的音乐内容,乃目前已知最早于中国录制的音乐档案。展开更多
文摘When scientific research began in early twentieth-century China,a key issue was the acquisition of reliable empirical information through objective and precise observations.This article examines a specific case where a scientist grappled with such an issue:the linguist Chao Yuen Ren’s application of mechanical means in his phonetic studies.In the 1920s–1930s,Chao conducted a series of field and lab studies on the dialects in southern and central China.In contrast to traditional scholars’exclusive reliance on sharp ears and rhyme books,Chao employed mechanical devices to inscribe and analyze the spectrographs of dialectical tones and used phonographs to record the articulations of his subjects.It is demonstrated that Chao’s machines not only provided a new method of observation;they also altered the theoretical understanding of certain fundamental categories in Chinese phonology,such as tones.Moreover,Chao did not aim to replace human perception with automatic mechanisms in empirical investigations.Rather,the use of machines in his research called for an active and engaged scientific persona.
文摘20世纪初,人类学家伯特霍尔德·劳弗(Berthold Laufer, 1874—1934)参与“雅各布·希夫中国考察项目”(The Jacob Schiff China Expedition;1901-1904),三年间走遍中国东部,于上海、北京等地录制502枚蜡筒,内容包括戏曲、器乐、民歌等音乐体裁,并计划将录音译谱出版。劳弗蜡筒目前多保存于美国传统音乐档案馆,2017年印第安纳大学采用尼古拉斯·伯格(Nicholas Bergh)设计的蜡筒播放系统,开始数字化工作。劳弗在录制一首作品时大多同时使用两台留声机分别撷取人声、乐声,然受限其时未有标准录制转速,故音频工程师需校准每组蜡筒音频的播放速度,匹配两份音档乐句位置,并平衡两台留声机马达出现的颤动现象,经修复后的音档出现了近似于立体声的音响效果。而劳弗蜡筒录音时间虽较穆麟德(Paul Georg von M9llendorff)晚,但后者录制内容为诗集朗诵。因此,劳弗蜡筒明确的音乐内容,乃目前已知最早于中国录制的音乐档案。
