The purpose of this essay will be to examine which writing system is more desirable, semanto-phonetic writing or alphabetical writing. In order to get better understanding in this thesis statement, semanto-phonetic writing and alphabetical writing should be broadly defined. Alphabetic writing systems represent the phonological structure of the language while the symbols used in semanto-phonetic writing systems often represent both sound and meaning. Semanto-phonetic writing is more desirable than alphabetical writing because its advantages are more than that of alphabetical writing. This essay will express four main advantages of semanto-phonetic writing, including able to be understood across time and space, greater aesthetic interest and easy to read. To make it more specific and clearer, Chinese writing would be taken as example of semanto-phonetic writing to compare with English writing, which is an example of alphabetical writing in this essay.
As Professor Sun discussed in lecture, Chinese writing system is useful for contemporary people to read and understand the ancient works as this writing system remain unchanged over the past two thousand years. A person who learned basic Chinese language is able to read the traditional writings. Obviously, Chinese characters are understood across time. However, English writings cannot be used to communicate over time as their words are always changing. Since pronunciation changes a whole lot over time, the spelling of recent English script has no relationship with how the word is actually spoken in the past. Without specialty training, a contemporary English native speaker cannot read Old and Middle English, like Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) works in four hundred years ago. This offers s...
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...re made. It shows that documents in Chinese are mostly shorter and simple, but informative. Chinese writing is at a great strength due to this fact since it is faster to write Chinese documents than writing English documents, so Chinese writing are more favorable than English writing.
To conclude, Chinese writing is more advanced in cross time and cross-space communication in comparing with English writing. Furthermore, Chinese writing is more attractive and easy to read. Although a Chinese Character may have complicated strokes, each Chinese Character carries more information; shorter, simple and informative Chinese documents are made in result. This shows that the advantages of semanto-phonetic writing, like Chinese writing are more than that of alphabetic writing, like English writing. As such, semanto-phonetic writing is more preferable than alphabetic writing.
China has a long history of language reformation, where the Chinese language becomes one of the most successful and radical amendments for the whole nation to adopt several changes along the way. In this essay, a discussion of major components in the language reform, specifically the Mandarin language, in China will be explored with the social, culture, and political issues that have influence the changes. A history and pattern of language used in China- starting from the days of language in the imperial court, to the communist revolution during Mao’s regime, until the language and speech pattern in the twenty first century era- will be explored throughout the essay. This essay will also feature the analysis of the dwindling standard style language by the Han dynasty into the widespread official speech from north China, which became the basis for the Standard Chinese in the modern days. Speech pattern and the underlying social reformation of the Red Guards, due to the shift of political power in the bourgeoisie and proletarians society of China’s population will be explored as well. The success of the implementation of a single national language by the government of China throughout the country will be mentioned. Finally, how and why the language in China has differed greatly from one era to another will be analyzed in the essay, especially the power reason behind the changes in China’s language system.
In the course of this class, we have discussed the differences between spoken and written language. And it has been generally agreed upon that spoken language is easier than written language. Yet, we seem to have agreed that it is necessary to have a strong grasp of spoken language before learning to write. This is the natural progression for children. They learn to talk first and then we move on to teaching them how to write. Keep this idea in mind. And I agree that spoken language is easier, in a conversational manner. We speak to our ...
Humans have been using written language to communicate ideas with one another since as early as 3200 BCE in Mesopotamia. Since then, every great civilization has had a written language, each with its own unique characteristics. However, it was the writin...
The English language has been in constant transition throughout its history, but the most significant transformation in modern English can be credited to William Shakespeare. With Shakespeare’s invention of commonly used expressions, his creation of new words, and his use of iambic pentameter, he was able to affect the language in a way that no person since has. Shakespeare’s influence on modern English is not only visible in everyday speech, but also in the fact that his work has survived over four hundred years and it continues to be performed and read worldwide.
Writing has been part of my life ever since I learned how to spell my first words. As I use the writing process I had to evolve and learn grammar, orthodoxy, and punctuation. I learned all this in my language which is Spanish. The writing rules are very different in different languages and after having an idea on how to write in English, I always refer back to what I learned in my early years. As I write in English I have faced many challenges to include learning to think in English before I write. I am use to think in Spanish and therefore the words flow as a river with minimum effort on my part. I have tried to think in Spanish, translate my thoughts and then writing in English but has proven to be the most difficult process to follow. As I wrestled with the idea of writing in English and learning to think in English, my writing has become better with each assignment. As I reflect on how my writing has evolved, it is my intention to compare how the different tools and genres of writing had helped me write academically papers and how I expect to continue to better myself for mu future, even after I graduate from college.
So yes, writing has improved much from when it was formed by the Sumerians in 3200 B.C. We went from clay, to paper, and have many different sorts of writing that are available to people today to use and to develop; such as cuneiform and hieroglyphics from thousands of years ago. Here in the present day, we even partake in diverse types of writing in literature such as fiction, non-fiction, scientific, etc. to create different feelings for the reader.
For centuries, cursive handwriting has been considered an art. However, to a increasing number of young people the form is becoming extinct. The graceful letters of the cursive alphabet have been transcribed on innumerable love letters, acted as the method for articulating thoughts in journals and diaries, and have been scrawled across elementary school chalkboards for generations. Yet, cursive is gradually vanishing due to the accessibility to keyboards and smartphones. While the loss of the cursive alphabet may appear inconsequential, recent studies have revealed that in fact the gradual death of the fancier ABC’s instigates concerns for future generations.
Our “traditional” writing was not traditional in ancient times. The birth of writing itself was a new technology. This is similar to the birth of the computers years ago. The writing process is taught in grade school. It begins with brainstorming, writing a rough draft, proofreading and completing a final draft. This process is often obsolete with modern writing. Traditionally a writer uses a writing utensil and paper to create their writings. Modern technology allows us to type as we write. This occurs when a writer begins to type their thoughts as they think. I personally design a paper structure similar to the traditional format to assist in my paper creation prior to typing; however, some people sit at the computer and type as the think. Some may argue eliminating the traditional process damages the fundamentals of writing. However, I feel we brainstorm in a different way with modern writing. As the person types, he/she deletes and rearranges sentences to make the paper complete. The writer is able to use spell check or proof read from a printed copy. The fundamentals are not tarnished because the purpose of traditional process applies to the modern process as well.
Paper, first established in Ancient China during the Han Dynasty in the 105s, has always been used as a simple, basic writing surface. Also, it was the easiest way of
There are many different forms and styles used in writing. Writing is a form of communication that is used to document and express ideas people have. Through the years as people grow and learn knew ways of writing, writing awareness of a person will evolve into a much higher level of thinking. From the first term paper a person writes in high school to the papers they hand in at the college level, the writing will have matured over the years. The authors of writing develop new and more sophisticated ways in expressing themselves through the words they use in writing. Throughout history writers have found ways in which they can achieve the goals of gaining the readers attention and keep them interested. A good form of literature doesn't just write out on paper by itself, much preparation and ideas need to be worked out before it is finished. An author can improve his or her writing by giving thought to different ways of expressing their writing. One way of improving their writing is by using voice. Voice can offer writers different ways of explaining their thoughts.
In nineteenth-century society, a time well versed in the uses and advantages of Gutenberg’s printing press, the typewriter changed the way people thought about writing. Since the introduction of the printing press four centuries earlier, there had been a very limited amount of new inventions pertaining to writing or the world of the mechanized press. Advancements certainly had been made to modernize the printing process, but the typewriter was the next invention that would change the face of writing. The typewriter made writing more common and accessible and loosened up proper business etiquette. Professionals shifted from the mindset of having to write a handwritten letter regarding company updates and accepted the notion of being able to type out a business memo. The process of typing also affected the way authors wrote and what they thought about writing as it allowed them to become more involved in publication.
how the English language has changed in the many years from then until now. The
Computer has made the life easier by providing various applications and technologies. For example, while computer has replaced typewriter, it helps the students to become a better writer as they can “revise text, rearrange paragraphs, and experiment with the tone and shape of an essay” () while using word processing. Thus, the computer helps the students to improvise their writing. Human relationship with co...
Writing is very much an artificial creation, not a natural occurrence. To illustrate how true this is and how much writing is taken for granted and internalized as natural to humans, an experiment was done. Students from Eastern Michigan University’s English 328: Writing, Style, and Technology class were challenged to invent a writing technology without using any manufactured utensils such as pens, pencils, paint, brushes, white-out pens, nail polish, electronic devices or paper. The purpose was not to invent a new alphabet but to invent a new method of writing. In addition, the assignment required the consideration of four other elements: permanence, portability, creativity, and the extent to ...
Some time between 1041 and 1048, Bi Sheng created the very first device capable of moving type in China. This movable type method used single letterforms to recreate a document in a less painstakingly manner. In 1450, a German printer, by the name of Johannes Gutenberg, created an improved mechanical printing press. Gutenberg’s printing press made printing multiple books easier with its ability to mass-produce. Gutenberg, whom had been a goldsmith for some time, took what he knew an...