Mo Yan speaks up about his silence  

莫言對談庫切 回應“默言”質疑

第二屆“中澳文學論壇”2日在北京開幕，中國和澳大利亞兩位諾貝爾文學獎得主莫言與庫切的演講引人注目，他們演講的共同主題是“諾貝爾文學獎及其意義”。莫言首次在演講中公開回應眾多質疑，直言寫作也是一種發(fā)聲，不一定非要講話。

Beijing (CNS) -- Nobel laureate Mo Yan said in a speech Tuesday that writing is also a voice, although not an utterance, responding to critics about his silence in public for the first time.

Mo made the speech at the Second China-Australia Literary Forum in Beijing, which invited another Nobel laureate in literature, Australian writer J.M. Coetzee.

As for expectations of his utterance, Mo said, "Of course I could give utterance, but I would feel ashamed if I went around as a Nobel winner, even if others don't loathe it." Writing is also a way of speaking, a much more important way, he added.

"I only hope to return to my writing desk as soon as possible," Mo said. "And I would also like to do something good for society anonymously."

Mo said he was bothered by numerous requests asking him to offer help, which took advantage of his fame.

A writer has nothing special, and it would hurt writers to offer them high positions in society, Mo said.

"I still consider myself an ordinary citizen who writes. And presenting quality works is my duty and best way of giving back to society."

Mo ended his speech with humor: "A new Nobel laureate will come out in six months, and the public will no longer focus on me. I look forward to it."

"Mo Yan" — meaning "don't speak" in Chinese — is his pen name.