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Monday, February 29, 2016

WHY IS CHINESE WRITING SO UNIQUE?

WHY IS CHINESE WRITING SO UNIQUE?

MAN=
FOREST= 森林
MOUNTAIN=月亮

BRIGHT=

SUN=太阳
WIFE= 妻子
TIGER=
MOON=月亮
GOOD=
TREE=

1.    The Chinese written language is not based on alphabets as used in English and other languages of the world. It is also not based on the sounds of the spoken language.


2.   Instead, it is based on pictures or characters. Each written word has its own special sign called an ideograph. This system of writing has been used throughout China for many thousands years, and it is understood by the Chinese in all parts of the world.


3.   There are more than 40,000 different characters. All these characters are not often used. However, in order to read a newspaper, a person must be aware of at least 3000 to 5000 characters.


4.   Attempts have been made by the Chinese Government to make the written language simpler. They have adopted a system of making the characters easy to write, by reducing the strokes that are required to write them.


5.    The use of alphabets as in the English language has also been introduced.


6.   School children these days; learn both the characters as well as the alphabetic spellings of a word.


7.   Mandarin Chinese is the official language of China. Many Chinese leaders are of the opinion that once everyone in China speaks the official language, the use of characters will be done away with. However, it has its disadvantages because, then, nobody will be able to read the language of Ancient China.  



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