
cpan1
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As to my understanding, a change of widely used scientific terminology is not a simple matter; it must be a necessity. Either it is because new discoveries have made the old terminology to become obsolete such that it can no longer be able to properly represent or describe the named physical phenomenon, or it has been discovered that the old terminology was inadequately defined from the start or simply defined wrong. In either case, you need a special committee to make a wide-scope discussion, as well as a formal presentation such as through publication to tell all the scientists concerned of the reasons why the terminology should be changed. If the feedbacks from the scientists are unanimously in favor, then formally announce the change. However, if there are still controversies, and you still think you are right, you may need a ballot to get an absolute majority. I hope you knew exactly what you were doing and believe you had gone through similar processes at least in Taiwan. However, earthquakes are not a special physical phenomenon occurred and studied only in Taiwan. I am not in a position to solicit opinions from other Chinese-speaking experts outside Taiwan on this change of terminology. However, from Chinese news reports around here I continue to find that, besides the Taiwan news media, nobody has followed your new terminology. Those Chinese-speaking scientists who had talked to the Chinese media around here were still using the old terminology, and even the Chinese newspaper which was already aware of this change still used both ¡°guimu¡± and ¡°jie¡± at the same time for the same earthquake, depending on their news sources. Well, you may say that you do not care about what the others say; what you do care is ¡°Taiwan first.¡± That is fine! Please do not forget seismology is a science and you are supposed doing scientific work; you should exactly know what you were doing. I still remember many years ago, when T. L. Teng was just beginning to introduce seismology to Taiwan, once he said to me, ¡°science has no boundaries.¡± I am not sure what he will say by now. I believe I have already made a mistake; I should not have got involved in such a monkey business after all.
发贴时间:12/29/2005 5:23:51 PM
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