On November 12, 2025, Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) welcomed Professors Lu Jianming and Ma Zhen from Peking University for a pair of highly anticipated academic lectures. The event drew faculty, students, and visiting scholars from SISU, Chongqing University, Southwest University, and other institutions. Vice President Wang Renqiang presided over the day’s program.

Due to overwhelming interest, the original venue—Room A609 of Lide Building—quickly reached full capacity, with additional attendees gathering in the corridor. Organizers relocated the event to the university library auditorium to accommodate the audience. During the transition, Professors Lu and Ma greeted students requesting autographs and photographs, while others joined the event via livestream.

As the morning lecture was held on Professor Lu Jianming’s 90th birthday, the audience welcomed him with sustained applause before his 10:00 a.m. presentation titled My Perspectives on Advancing Modern Chinese Grammar Research. Widely regarded as one of the most influential contemporary researchers of Chinese grammar, Lu offered an in-depth examination of key issues in Chinese syntax, highlighting the structural properties of Chinese as a non-inflectional language. Drawing on examples such as the “N within N” construction and the semantics of existential sentences, he emphasized the importance of identifying emerging grammatical patterns and reassessing earlier interpretations. Addressing the integration of artificial intelligence into linguistic inquiry, he proposed a disciplined approach: “embrace, learn, utilize, but do not depend.”

In his concluding remarks, Vice President Wang praised Lu’s scholarly insight and methodological rigor, noting that the lecture outlined clear research trajectories and analytical tools. He emphasized that Lu’s discussion provides meaningful guidance for emerging scholars seeking to ground theoretical innovation in empirical data—advancing SISU’s efforts to strengthen its language disciplines and pedagogical frameworks.

At 4:20 p.m., Professor Ma Zhen delivered the afternoon lecture titled The Imperative of Cultivating Problem-Discovery Proficiency, moderated by Professor Zhou Wende of SISU’s School of Chinese Language and Culture. Ma structured her talk around the interrelation of knowledge, competence, and ethical disposition. Using examples such as fàn’ér (“on the contrary”) and the usage distinctions between duì and duìyú, she demonstrated how everyday expressions can reveal deeper linguistic questions. She concluded by calling for “intentional engagement and assiduous reflection,” encouraging scholars to move beyond established analytical patterns.

A dynamic Q&A session followed, addressing topics such as challenges in teaching international Chinese grammar and comparative analyses of dialectal and standard syntax. Professors Lu and Ma offered comprehensive responses, providing participants with new conceptual perspectives.

A dynamic Q&A session followed, addressing topics such as challenges in teaching Chinese grammar to international learners and comparative analyses of dialectal and standard syntax. Professors Lu and Ma offered comprehensive responses, providing participants with fresh analytical perspectives.

Audience members described the event as deeply enriching. Li, a graduate student in Chinese International Education at SISU, noted that the empirical examples and methodological clarity shed new light on linguistic research. A faculty member from Southwest University’s College of Literature remarked that Professor Lu’s sustained focus on Chinese grammatical structure and Professor Ma’s emphasis on refining one’s ability to formulate research-worthy questions offer valuable guidance for frontline educators and researchers.