A Dissertation on the Nature and Character of the Chinese System of Writing, in a Letter to John Vaughan, Esq. (Classic Reprint) - Couverture souple
Synopsis
Why the Chinese writing system isn’t a separate language—and how it actually works. This careful study explains how Chinese characters encode words and ideas, not sounds alone, and why the script is not a language apart from speech.
Peter S. Du Ponceau argues against the idea that Chinese writing is a standalone ideographic language. Instead, he shows how characters recall Chinese words and ideas by grouping signs that correspond to the idiom’s monosyllabic units. The book frames the debate with clear contrasts between syllabic systems, alphabetic scripts, and the Chinese method, offering a readable, historically grounded account of the origins and function of written Chinese.
Using examples from Cochinchinese and other language groups, the author traces how early pictorial marks evolved into a stable writing system over four thousand years. The discussion covers how readers recognize groups of signs as words and meanings, rather than reading letter by letter. It also examines how the Chinese script interacts with the spoken language and why many scholars have misunderstood its relationship to speech.
- Clear distinction between speech sounds and written signs in Chinese writing
- Comparison of syllabic, alphabetic, and ideographic concepts with concrete examples
- Historical context for how logograms represent words and ideas together
- Discussion of Cochinchinese vocabularies to illustrate script usage
Ideal for readers of linguistic history, philology, and the study of how writing systems develop and function in practice.
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A Dissertation on the Nature and Character of the Chinese System of Writing, in
impression à la demandeVendeur : Forgotten Books, London, Royaume-Uni
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Paperback. Etat : New. Print on Demand. This book presents a fascinating exploration of the Chinese writing system and its unique characteristics. It challenges the widely-held belief that Chinese characters represent ideas directly, arguing instead that they are connected to words and sounds. The author delves into the history and evolution of the system, examining its use by various nations, including the Cochinchinese and Japanese. By comparing the Chinese writing system to other graphic methods, such as syllabic and alphabetic systems, the author sheds light on its strengths and limitations. Through insightful analysis, this book provides a fresh perspective on the nature of language, writing and the connections between them, making it an invaluable resource for linguists, historians, and anyone interested in the intricacies of human communication. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. N° de réf. du vendeur 9781333903688_0
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A Dissertation on the Nature and Character of the Chinese System of Writing, in a Letter to John Vaughan, Esq. (Classic Reprint)
Vendeur : PBShop.store US, Wood Dale, IL, Etats-Unis
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PAP. Etat : New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. N° de réf. du vendeur LW-9781333903688
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A Dissertation on the Nature and Character of the Chinese System of Writing, in a Letter to John Vaughan, Esq. (Classic Reprint)
Vendeur : PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, Royaume-Uni
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PAP. Etat : New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. N° de réf. du vendeur LW-9781333903688
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