WHY IS CHINESE WRITING SO UNIQUE?
MAN=人
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FOREST= 森林
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MOUNTAIN=月亮
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BRIGHT=亮
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SUN=太阳
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WIFE= 妻子
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TIGER=虎
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MOON=月亮
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GOOD=好
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TREE=樹
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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5.
The use of alphabets as in
the English language has also been introduced.
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6.
School children these days;
learn both the characters as well as the alphabetic spellings of a word.
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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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