Reading assignments:

 

All the online files under “Chinese writing: facts and myths”.

 

Homework assignment 4:

1. List the major stages in the evolution of Chinese characters. Include the special characteristics and the time period for each major stage.

2. What do you think of the simplification of Chinese characters?  If you agree with what is given in the file on simplification, do a summary of the main points.  If you do not agree with what is presented in the file, you should address any point that you have a different view on and back up your view with specific arguments.  

3.  Examine the following simple and compound characters. 

a). Say in each case whether the character is a simple or a compound character. 

b). In the case of compound characters, do the following

a.       List the components.

b.      Say whether each of the components contributes to the sound or the meaning of the character. 

c.       Identify the type of the compound character (compound indicative, phonetic-semantic compound). 

c).  How many characters are there of the different types?

 

Hint: You need to look at all the characters first before you analyze the characters, because the components of some compound characters can also occur as independent simple characters with their own sounds and meanings.  Only by knowing the sounds/meanings of these components can you decide what their contribution is to a compound character.  It is also a good idea to first sort the characters into groups that share components.

 

1. 大dΰ            ‘big’                      

2. 群qϊn           ‘crowd, flock'

3. 病bμng          ‘sickness'

4. 洋yαng          ‘ocean'

5. 美měi           ‘beautiful'

6. 丙bǐng          ‘C (grade)'

7. 气qμ            ‘air'

8. 君jūn           ‘sir'

9. 痒yǎng          ‘itchy'

10.财cαi           ‘fortune’

11.贩fΰn           ‘peddler'

12.贵guμ           ‘expensive'

13.柄bǐng          ‘handle'

14.材cαi           ‘timber, wood material'

15.氛θn            ‘atmosphere'

16.饭fΰn           ‘rice, meal'

17.羊yαng          ‘lamb, goat'

18.汾fēn           ‘name of a river'

19.郡jωn           ‘prefecture'

20.氧yǎng          ‘oxygen'

21.反fǎn           ‘against, anti-'

22.才cαi           ‘only then'

23.上shΰng         ‘up’

24.下xiΰ           ‘down’

25.虾 xiā          ‘shrimp’

26.让 rΰng         ‘let, concede’

27.贝 bθi          ‘sea shell’

28.食shν           ‘food’

29.木mω            ‘wood, tree’

30.虫chσng         ‘insect’

 

4.  Based on what you did for the last question, discuss why Chinese writing is more phonetic and less semantic (representing meaning) than it appears.  You should use concrete examples from the above list to support your general points.