The Origin and Early Development of the Chinese Writing System

The Origin and Early Development of the Chinese Writing System PDF Author: William G. Boltz
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
Originally published in 1994 (hardcover now out of print), this volume has been reprinted in a new paperback format that will make it more attractive and affordable for use in the classroom. The work sketches with extraordinary precision the history of the Chinese writing system from the late Shang (ca. 1200 B.C.) when Chinese characters are first in evidence down to the script's standardization and codification a millennium later in the Ch'in and Han (221 B.C.-A.D. 220). Prof. Boltz takes in part a comparative approach to the origin and early structure and development of Chinese writing, suggesting that in its general principles the process was matched pari passu by the way writing first arose in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and among the Mayas (for example, that the Chinese script records the sounds of words, not ideas). The author also examines the question of why the Chinese script never became alphabetic, in spite of hints of such tendencies in the third and second centuries B.C. Kidder Smith, of Bowdoin College, said of the original publication: "... this book will be highly valued by anyone concerned with the relationships of language to writing, and should become the point of reference for all discussions of these questions as they pertain to ancient Chinese" (Religious Studies Review Vol. 21, No. 4, October 1995).

The Origin and Early Development of the Chinese Writing System

The Origin and Early Development of the Chinese Writing System PDF Author: William G. Boltz
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 226

Get Book Here

Book Description
Originally published in 1994 (hardcover now out of print), this volume has been reprinted in a new paperback format that will make it more attractive and affordable for use in the classroom. The work sketches with extraordinary precision the history of the Chinese writing system from the late Shang (ca. 1200 B.C.) when Chinese characters are first in evidence down to the script's standardization and codification a millennium later in the Ch'in and Han (221 B.C.-A.D. 220). Prof. Boltz takes in part a comparative approach to the origin and early structure and development of Chinese writing, suggesting that in its general principles the process was matched pari passu by the way writing first arose in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and among the Mayas (for example, that the Chinese script records the sounds of words, not ideas). The author also examines the question of why the Chinese script never became alphabetic, in spite of hints of such tendencies in the third and second centuries B.C. Kidder Smith, of Bowdoin College, said of the original publication: "... this book will be highly valued by anyone concerned with the relationships of language to writing, and should become the point of reference for all discussions of these questions as they pertain to ancient Chinese" (Religious Studies Review Vol. 21, No. 4, October 1995).

The Origin and the Development of the Chinese Writing System

The Origin and the Development of the Chinese Writing System PDF Author: William G. Boltz
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780940490185
Category : Chinese characters
Languages : en
Pages : 205

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Book Description


Theorigin and Early Development of the Chinese Writing System

Theorigin and Early Development of the Chinese Writing System PDF Author: Jeroen Wiedenhof
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 385

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Book Description


A History of the Chinese Language

A History of the Chinese Language PDF Author: Hongyuan Dong
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317743903
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 219

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Book Description
A History of the Chinese Language provides a comprehensive introduction to the historical development of the Chinese language from its proto Sino-Tibetan roots in prehistoric times to Modern Standard Chinese. Taking a highly accessible and balanced approach, it presents a chronological survey of the various stages of Chinese language development, covering crucial aspects such as phonology, syntax and semantics. Features include: Coverage of the key historical stages in Chinese language development, such as Old Chinese, Middle Chinese, Early Modern Chinese, Classical Chinese and Modern Standard Chinese Treatment of core linguistic aspects of the Chinese language including phonological changes, grammatical development, lexical evolution, vernacular writing, Chinese characters and Modern Chinese dialects Inclusion of many authentic Chinese legends and texts throughout the book, presented through a rigorous framework of linguistic analysis to help students to build up strong critical and evaluative skills and acquire valuable cultural knowledge Integration of materials from different disciplines, such as archaeology, anthropology, history and sociolinguistics, to highlight the cultural and social background of each period of the language Helpful appendices to aid students with no prior knowledge of linguistics or the Chinese language Companion website at www.routledge.com/cw/dong offering a wealth of supplementary resources such as additional exercises, answer keys and audio recordings of the sounds of Middle and Old Chinese. Written by a highly experienced instructor, A History of the Chinese Language will be an essential resource for beginning students of Chinese Language and Linguistics and for anyone interested in the history and culture of China.

Early Chinese Writing

Early Chinese Writing PDF Author: Frank Herring Chalfant
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Chinese language
Languages : en
Pages : 152

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Book Description


Oxford Bibliographies

Oxford Bibliographies PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature

The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature PDF Author: Kang-i Sun Chang
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521855587
Category : Chinese literature
Languages : en
Pages : 748

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Book Description
Stephen Owen is James Bryant Conant Professor of Chinese at Harvard University. --Book Jacket.

The Origins of Chinese Writing

The Origins of Chinese Writing PDF Author: Paola Demattè
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0197635768
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 481

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Book Description
This study explores the evidence for Chinese writing in the late Neolithic (3500-2000 BCE) and early Bronze Age (2000-1250 BCE) periods. Chinese writing is often said to have begun with little incubation during the late Shang period (c. 1300-1045 BCE) in the middle-lower Yellow River Valley area as a sudden independent invention. This explanation runs counter to evidence from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Mesoamerica that shows that independent developments of writing generally undergo a protracted evolution. It also ignores archaeological data from the Chinese Neolithic and early Bronze Age that reveals the existence of signs comparable to Shang characters. Paola Demattè takes this data into account to address the issue of what writing is, and when, why, and how it develops, by employing a theory of writing that does not privilege language as a prime mover. It focuses instead on visual systems of communication as well as ideological and socio-economic developments as key elements that promote the eventual development of writing. To understand the processes that led to primary developments of writing, The Origins of Chinese Writing draws from the latest research on the early writing systems of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Mesoamerica, and other forms of protowriting. The result is a novel and inclusive theoretical approach to the archaeological evidence, grammatological data, and textual sources, an approach that demonstrates that Chinese writing emerged out of a long process that began in the Late Neolithic and continued during the Early Bronze Age.

Chinese Writing

Chinese Writing PDF Author: Wee Lee Woon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Chinese characters
Languages : en
Pages : 356

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Book Description


Early Chinese Writing

Early Chinese Writing PDF Author: Frank Herring Chalfant
Publisher: Legare Street Press
ISBN: 9781021452436
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
In this book, first published in 1906, Frank Herring Chalfant provides a comprehensive overview of the history and development of writing in China, from the earliest pictograms and ideograms, to the development of the seal script and clerical script. Chalfant examines in detail the evolution of Chinese writing, its aesthetics, and its relation to culture and society. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.