One,
Summary of Chapter Nine: Constructing a Perfect Language
as the Base for a Universal Language
This chapter explores the concept of a "perfect
language" as a necessary foundation for a universal language, using the
Chinese writing system as a real-world example to illustrate the construction
of such a language through an axiomatic approach.
Key Points
- Perfect
vs. Universal Language: A perfect language is a prerequisite for a
universal language, but not all perfect languages are universal. The
search for a universal language begins with constructing a perfect one,
based on three premises (outlined in previous chapters).
- Three
Steps to Construct a Perfect Language:
- Build
an axiomatic system with a finite set of members, rules, and initial
conditions (roots for forms and sounds).
- Integrate
natural languages (which often develop verbs first) into this system—a
significant engineering challenge.
- Ensure
the system is manageable for the average person.
- Chinese
as an Example: The chapter uses Chinese characters to demonstrate
these steps, emphasizing that understanding Chinese is not required to
grasp the principles discussed.
- Chinese
Writing System Analysis:
- The
system is built from a small set of pictograph radicals and pointing
roots, which serve as "roots" in the etymological system.
- Most
Chinese words are constructed using two main methods: phonetic loans (形 声)
and sense determinators (会 意). Other methods like synonymizing and borrowing
are ways of using existing words, not creating new ones.
- The
meaning of many Chinese words can be inferred from their components,
especially in sense determinator words.
- Distinguishing
Word Types:
- Phonetic
loan words have two radicals: one for category (e.g., fish, bird) and one
as a sound tag, which acts as an identifier.
- Sense
determinator words involve a logical inference process, and their sound
tags contribute semantically rather than phonetically.
- The
chapter introduces several "CE laws" to distinguish between
these types, such as:
- If
a word’s meaning comes from the phonetic value of its sound tag, it’s a
phonetic loan word.
- If
it comes from the semantic value, it’s a sense determinator word.
- Complexities
and Laws:
- Conclusion:
- The
Chinese verbal universe is vast, with multiple subsystems (dialects) that
are structurally isomorphic.
- The
written system is rooted in a finite set of radicals and sound modules,
and every character carries a sound tag, either explicit or implicit.
- The
chapter summarizes five key laws governing the relationship between
meaning, sound, and word formation in Chinese, emphasizing that the type
of word is determined by how its meaning arises, not just its form.
Two,
Detailed Explanation of the CE Laws
The CE laws are a set of principles introduced to
distinguish between different types of Chinese characters, specifically between
形 声
(phonetic loan) words and 会 意 (sense determinator) words. These laws clarify how
meaning and pronunciation arise in Chinese word formation.
CE Law 1
Definition:
- If the
meaning of a word arises from the phonetic value of its sound tag,
it is a 形
声 (phonetic loan) word.
- If the
meaning of a word arises from the semantic value of its sound tag,
it is a 会
意 (sense determinator) word.
Explanation:
- In
phonetic loan words, the sound tag serves as a differentiator, and the
word’s meaning is closely tied to how it is pronounced.
- In
sense determinator words, the sound tag contributes to the meaning through
logic or inference, not just pronunciation.
CE Law 2
Definition:
- A
word is a 形
声 word if the “shared” radical in its family is silent (does
not contribute to pronunciation).
- A
word is a 会
意 word if the “shared” radical in its family is not silent
and acts as the sound tag.
Explanation:
- In
families of phonetic loan words, the category radical (like 鱼 for fish) is silent, and only the sound tag
is pronounced.
- In
sense determinator word families, the shared radical is pronounced and
helps infer meaning.
CE Law 3
Definition:
- A 形 声
word should pronounce identical to its sound tag.
- For
a 会
意 word, its sound tag has a span of sounds (may not be
pronounced exactly as the original sound tag).
Explanation:
- Phonetic
loan words have a direct correspondence between the sound tag and
pronunciation.
- Sense
determinator words may have variations in pronunciation, reflecting a
broader range of meanings or dialectal influences.
CE Law 4
Definition:
- Any
character which does not carry an explicit sound tag will pronounce the
same as its 轉 註 字 (synonymized word).
Explanation:
- If a
character lacks an explicit sound tag, its pronunciation is borrowed from
a synonym, following a rebus principle. This law is supported by
traditional Chinese dictionaries, which often define a character’s meaning
by its pronunciation.
CE Law 5
Definition:
- For
a character, it carries different meanings when it pronounces differently.
Explanation:
- A
single character may have multiple pronunciations, each associated with a
distinct meaning. This law highlights the polyphonic nature of Chinese
characters, where pronunciation shifts can signal different semantic
roles.
Summary Table
|
Law |
|
|
|
Main
Principle |
|
|
|
|
Example/Implication |
|
CE Law 1 |
|
|
|
Meaning from phonetic value = 形声; from semantic value
= 会意 |
|
|
|
|
Phonetic loan: meaning tied to sound; Sense determinator:
meaning inferred logically |
|
CE Law 2 |
|
|
|
Shared radical silent = 形声; shared radical pronounced = 会意 |
|
|
|
|
鱼 (fish) silent in 鰱, 鮭, 鱔 (形声); 君
pronounced in 郡,
裙,
群
(会意) |
|
CE Law 3 |
|
|
|
形声: identical pronunciation to sound tag; 会意:
span of sounds |
|
|
|
|
土 (tǔ)
as sound tag in various words with different pronunciations |
|
CE Law 4 |
|
|
|
No explicit sound tag → pronunciation from synonymized
word |
|
|
|
|
祭, 贏 pronounced like their synonyms |
|
CE Law 5 |
|
|
|
Different pronunciations → different meanings |
|
|
|
|
相 pronounced as xiāng, xiàng, xī, etc., each with a
unique meaning |
These laws provide a systematic way to analyze and classify
Chinese characters, clarifying the relationship between form, sound, and
meaning in the language.
Three,
Here are examples for each CE law, based on the explanations
and examples provided in PreBabel Chapter nine:
CE Law 1
Law:
- If
the meaning of a word arises from the phonetic value of its sound
tag, it is a 形 声 (phonetic loan) word.
- If
the meaning arises from the semantic value of its sound tag, it is
a 会
意 (sense determinator) word.
Examples:
- 形声
(Phonetic loan):
- 鰱
(lián), 鮭
(guī), 鱔
(shàn): Each has the radical 魚 (fish) for category, and a
sound tag (連, 圭, 善) that determines pronunciation.
- 会意
(Sense determinator):
- 郡
(jùn), 裙
(qún), 群
(qún): The sound tag 君 (jūn) contributes semantically, not just
phonetically, and the meaning is inferred from the combination of
radicals.
CE Law 2
Law:
- A
word is a 形声
word if the “shared” radical in its family is silent.
- A
word is a 会意
word if the “shared” radical in its family is not silent and acts
as the sound tag.
Examples:
- 形声
(Silent radical):
- 鰱,
鮭,
鱔:
The radical 魚 (fish) is silent in pronunciation; only the sound
tag is pronounced.
- 会意
(Pronounced radical):
CE Law 3
Law:
- A 形声
word should pronounce identical to its sound tag.
- For
a 会意
word, its sound tag has a span of sounds.
Examples:
- 形声:
- 鰱
(lián) pronounces exactly as its sound tag 連 (lián).
- 会意:
- 土
(tǔ) as a sound tag
appears in words like 杜 (dù), 肚 (dǔ), 牡 (mǔ), 地 (dì), 均 (jūn), 坒
(bì), 埔
(pǔ), each with
different pronunciations, showing a span of sounds.
CE Law 4
Law:
- Any
character which does not carry an explicit sound tag will pronounce the
same as its 轉 註 字 (synonymized word).
Examples:
- 祭
(jì): No explicit sound tag, but pronounced like its synonym 即
(jí).
- 贏
(yíng): No explicit sound tag, but pronounced like its synonym 盈
(yíng).
CE Law 5
Law:
- For
a character, it carries different meanings when it pronounces differently.
Examples:
- 相:
Four,
Summary: Chinese Dialects
- The
Chinese verbal universe consists of at least eight major subsystems
(dialects), such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Northern Min, Southern
Min, Hsiang, Kan, and Wu. Each of these subsystems contains additional
dialects.
- These
subsystems are often mutually unintelligible in terms of pronunciation
(phonology), but each is defined and demarcated by the same rhyme book (韻書).
This means that, structurally, the scope of each dialect system is
isomorphic (they share the same underlying structure).
- Each
subsystem contains, at most, about 250 four-tone patterns, resulting in
roughly 1,000 distinguishable sounds (phonemes). While some claim certain
dialects have more vowels, these are considered spans of the basic ones,
so the systems remain structurally equivalent.
- Issues
like homonyms (words that sound similar but have different meanings) and
homophones (words that sound the same but differ in spelling, origin, and
meaning) are not just challenges but are seen as ingenious features of the
Chinese system, allowing for a rich and flexible verbal universe.
How CE Laws Apply to Chinese Dialects
1. Structural Isomorphism Across Dialects
- All
major Chinese dialects (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Min, Wu, etc.) share
the same underlying structure for word formation, as defined by the rhyme
book (韻書).
This means the CE laws—rules for distinguishing word types and their
pronunciation/meaning relationships—apply consistently across dialects,
even though the spoken sounds may differ.
2. Phonetic Value and Sound Tags (CE Laws 1, 3, 4)
- Each
dialect has its own set of phonemes (about 1,000 per dialect), but the
principle that a word’s meaning may arise from its phonetic value (形声)
or semantic value (会意) holds true in every dialect.
- The
sound tag of a character may have a “span” of pronunciations across
dialects (CE Law 3). For example, the character 豬 (pig) is pronounced
zhū in Mandarin, zi in Cantonese, jy in Gan, and so on. The CE laws
recognize these variations as part of the system’s design, not as
exceptions.
- For
characters without explicit sound tags, pronunciation is borrowed from
synonyms, and this borrowing follows the same logic in all dialects (CE
Law 4).
3. Semantic Value and Meaning Inference (CE Laws 1, 2)
- The
process of inferring meaning from the combination of radicals (会意)
is universal, regardless of dialect. The semantic relationships encoded in
the written form are independent of how the word is pronounced in any
particular dialect.
4. Polyphony and Meaning (CE Law 5)
- Many
Chinese characters have multiple pronunciations (polyphony), and each
pronunciation can correspond to a different meaning. This phenomenon
exists in all dialects, and CE Law 5 formalizes it: different sounds mean
different things, regardless of the dialect.
5. Homonyms and Homophones
- The
existence of homonyms and homophones is not a flaw but an ingenious
feature of the Chinese system. The CE laws help manage these complexities
by providing rules for how meaning and pronunciation interact, ensuring
that the system remains robust across dialects.
In summary:
The CE laws are designed to be dialect-agnostic. They govern the relationship
between written form, sound, and meaning in Chinese, and their application is
consistent across all dialects, despite differences in pronunciation. This
universality is a key strength of the Chinese writing system.
Polyphony and Dialect Variation
- Polyphony
Defined:
Many Chinese characters have more than one pronunciation, and each pronunciation can correspond to a different meaning. This phenomenon is called polyphony. - Dialectal
Differences:
The specific pronunciations for a character can vary significantly across dialects. For example, the character 豬 (pig) is pronounced: - zhū
in Mandarin
- zi
in Cantonese
- jy
in Gan
- chû
in Hakka
- zu
in Jin
- kṳ̌ in
Min Bei
- dṳ̆ in
Min Dong
- ti
in Min Nan
- tsr
in Wu
- jy
in Xiang
- Implications:
- Each
dialect has its own set of phonemes, so the same character may sound very
different depending on the region.
- Despite
these differences, the written form and the underlying rules (such as the
CE laws) remain consistent across dialects.
- Polyphony
is not just a result of language evolution but is an intrinsic part of
the Chinese system’s design, allowing for flexibility and richness in
meaning.
- Multiple
Meanings:
A single character may have several pronunciations within one dialect, each linked to a distinct meaning. For example, the word 好 has at least eight different pronunciations in Mandarin, each corresponding to a different meaning.
In summary:
Polyphony in Chinese is both dialect-dependent and meaning-dependent. The same
character can have different sounds and meanings in different dialects, and
even within a single dialect, multiple pronunciations can signal different
meanings. This complexity is managed by the CE laws and is a key feature of the
Chinese language system.
Five,
Challenges of Polyphony for Learners
- Multiple
Pronunciations, Multiple Meanings:
A single character can have several pronunciations, each linked to a different meaning. Learners must memorize not only the character’s written form but also its various sounds and associated meanings. - Dialectal
Variation:
The pronunciation of a character can change dramatically across dialects. For example, the character 豬 (pig) is pronounced differently in Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Min, Wu, and other dialects. This means that learning Chinese in one dialect does not guarantee understanding in another, adding complexity for learners who encounter multiple dialects. - Homonyms
and Homophones:
Polyphony increases the number of homonyms (words that sound alike but have different meanings) and homophones (words that are pronounced the same but differ in spelling or meaning). This can make it difficult for learners to distinguish words in spoken language and to infer meaning from context. - Dictionary
and Reference Challenges:
Looking up a word in a dictionary can be complicated, as learners must know which pronunciation and meaning to search for. Some characters have pronunciations that are not immediately obvious from their written form, especially if they lack an explicit sound tag. - Cognitive
Load:
The need to remember multiple pronunciations and meanings for a single character increases the cognitive load for learners, making Chinese one of the more challenging languages to master, especially for non-native speakers.
In summary:
Polyphony in Chinese presents significant challenges for learners, including
memorization of multiple sounds and meanings, navigating dialectal differences,
dealing with homonyms/homophones, and overcoming difficulties in reference and
comprehension. These factors contribute to the complexity and richness of the
language, but also to the humility required to master it.
How CE Laws Help with Polyphony
1. Systematic Classification of Pronunciation and Meaning
- CE
Law 5 states that a single character can have different meanings
depending on its pronunciation. This law formalizes the phenomenon of
polyphony, making it an expected and rule-governed part of the language
rather than a random exception.
2. Guidance for Characters Without Explicit Sound Tags
- CE
Law 4 provides a rule for characters that lack an explicit sound tag:
their pronunciation is borrowed from a synonym (轉註字). This helps
learners and speakers predict how to pronounce such characters, even when
multiple pronunciations exist.
3. Differentiating Word Types and Sound Patterns
- CE
Law 3 distinguishes between 形声 (phonetic loan) words, which
should be pronounced identically to their sound tag, and 会意
(sense determinator) words, whose sound tags may have a “span” of
pronunciations. This clarifies when to expect a single pronunciation and
when to expect multiple, helping users navigate polyphony.
4. Consistency Across Dialects
- The
CE laws are designed to be dialect-agnostic. They apply regardless of
which dialect is being spoken, so even if a character’s pronunciation
changes from one dialect to another, the underlying rules for how meaning
and sound relate remain the same.
5. Managing Homonyms and Homophones
- By
providing rules for how meaning and pronunciation interact, the CE laws
help manage the complexity introduced by homonyms and homophones, which
are often a result of polyphony. This makes it easier for learners and
speakers to distinguish between words that sound alike but have different
meanings.
In summary:
The CE laws turn the challenge of polyphony into a manageable, rule-based
feature of Chinese. They provide clear guidelines for when and why a character
may have multiple pronunciations and meanings, how to predict pronunciation in
ambiguous cases, and how to apply these principles consistently across
dialects.
Six,
CE Laws’ Role in Digital Tools
1. Improved Input Methods
- CE
laws help digital input systems (like pinyin keyboards or handwriting
recognition) predict the correct pronunciation and meaning of a character,
especially when a character has multiple possible readings (polyphony). By
applying rules such as “pronounce identical to the sound tag for 形声
words” (CE Law 3) and “borrow pronunciation from synonyms for characters
without explicit sound tags” (CE Law 4), input tools can offer more
accurate suggestions.
2. Accurate Text-to-Speech (TTS) and Speech Recognition
- CE
Law 5 formalizes that different pronunciations correspond to different
meanings. TTS engines and speech recognition systems use this rule to
select the correct pronunciation based on context, reducing errors when
reading aloud or transcribing speech.
3. Enhanced Dictionary and Translation Tools
- Digital
dictionaries and translation apps use CE laws to clarify which
pronunciation and meaning to display for a character, especially when
users search for ambiguous or polyphonic characters. CE Law 1 and CE Law 2
help these tools distinguish between phonetic loan and sense determinator
words, guiding users to the right entry.
4. Consistency Across Dialects
- Because
CE laws are dialect-agnostic, digital tools can apply the same logic for
character analysis regardless of the user’s dialect. This ensures that
pronunciation and meaning suggestions remain consistent, even as users
switch between Mandarin, Cantonese, or other dialects.
5. Support for Language Learning Apps
- Language
learning platforms leverage CE laws to teach users how to distinguish word
types, predict pronunciation, and understand meaning relationships. This
systematic approach helps learners master polyphony and homophones more
efficiently.
In summary:
CE laws provide the foundational logic that enables digital tools to handle the
complexities of Chinese characters—especially polyphony, homophones, and
dialectal variation—making input, output, and learning more accurate and
user-friendly.
CE Laws’ Role in Speech Recognition
1. Disambiguating Polyphonic Characters
- CE
Law 5 states that a character’s meaning changes with its
pronunciation. Speech recognition systems use this rule to resolve
ambiguity when a spoken word matches multiple written forms. By analyzing
context, the system can select the correct character and meaning for each
pronunciation.
2. Predicting Pronunciation for Characters Without
Explicit Sound Tags
- CE
Law 4 guides speech recognition engines to infer the pronunciation of
characters lacking explicit sound tags by referencing their synonymized
words. This helps the system accurately transcribe spoken input, even for
less common or newly coined terms.
3. Distinguishing Word Types for Accurate Recognition
- CE
Law 3 clarifies that 形声 (phonetic loan) words should be pronounced
identically to their sound tag, while 会意 (sense determinator) words may
have a range of pronunciations. Speech recognition algorithms use this
distinction to match spoken sounds to the correct written form, improving
accuracy for both standard and regional pronunciations.
4. Consistency Across Dialects
- Because
CE laws are dialect-agnostic, speech recognition tools can apply the same
logic regardless of the dialect being spoken. This ensures that the system
can handle Mandarin, Cantonese, and other dialects consistently, even when
the same character is pronounced differently.
5. Managing Homonyms and Homophones
- The
CE laws help speech recognition systems distinguish between homonyms and
homophones by providing rules for how meaning and pronunciation interact.
This reduces errors when transcribing words that sound alike but have
different meanings.
In summary:
CE laws provide the foundational rules that enable speech recognition systems
to accurately interpret, transcribe, and distinguish Chinese
characters—especially those with multiple pronunciations—by linking sound,
meaning, and context in a systematic way.
Here are examples of homonyms and homophones in Chinese,
explained using the CE laws and supported by the analysis in PreBabel Chapter
nine:
Homonyms
Definition:
Homonyms are words that share the same written form (character) but have
different meanings and pronunciations.
Example: 相
- Pronounced
as xiāng: means “helping” (相助)
- Pronounced
as xī: means “knowing” (相知)
- Pronounced
as xiàng: means “looks alike” (相片)
- Pronounced
as xiàng: means “toward, direction” (互相)
- Pronounced
as rang: means “seeking relief from bad omen” (相灾
= 禳灾)
Each pronunciation corresponds to a distinct meaning, illustrating CE Law 5: different pronunciations yield different meanings.
Homophones
Definition:
Homophones are words that are pronounced the same but differ in spelling,
origin, and meaning.
Example: 志, 誌, 痣
- All
pronounced as zhì in Mandarin:
- 志:
“will, aspiration”
- 誌:
“record, magazine”
- 痣:
“mole (on the skin)”
These words have different written forms and meanings but share the same pronunciation, demonstrating the homophone phenomenon.
Additional Example: Polyphony and Homophony
Example: 好
- Pronounced
as hǎo:
“good”
- Pronounced
as hào: “to like”
The character 好 has at least eight different pronunciations in Mandarin, each corresponding to a different meaning, showing both polyphony (multiple pronunciations for one character) and homophony (same pronunciation for different meanings).
Summary Table
|
Type |
Example
Characters |
Pronunciations |
Meanings |
|
Homonym |
相 |
xiāng, xī, xiàng, rang |
helping, knowing, looks alike, direction, seeking relief |
|
Homophone |
志, 誌, 痣 |
zhì |
will, record, mole |
|
Polyphony |
好 |
hǎo,
hào |
good, to like |
Here’s a description of the rhyme book’s role in Chinese
dialects, based on PreBabel Chapter nine:
The Rhyme Book’s Role in Dialects
- Defining
Phonological Structure:
The rhyme book (韻書) serves as a reference that defines the set of possible sounds (phonemes) for Chinese characters. Each dialect—Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Min, Wu, etc.—is demarcated and structured according to the same rhyme book, even though the actual pronunciations may differ. - Ensuring
Structural Isomorphism:
Although dialects are often mutually unintelligible in terms of spoken language, the rhyme book ensures that the underlying structure of each dialect is isomorphic. This means that the scope of sounds and the way characters are grouped by rhyme and tone are consistent across dialects, providing a common framework for organizing pronunciation. - Limiting
the Phonemic Inventory:
The rhyme book helps standardize the number of distinguishable sounds in each dialect. For example, each subsystem (dialect) encompasses, at most, about 250 four-tone patterns, resulting in roughly 1,000 phonemes. Claims of additional vowels in some dialects are considered spans of the basic ones, so the systems remain structurally equivalent. - Managing
Homonyms and Homophones:
By providing a systematic way to classify and organize sounds, the rhyme book helps manage the complexities of homonyms and homophones across dialects. This organization is seen as an ingenious feature of the Chinese language system.
In summary:
The rhyme book acts as a foundational reference for all Chinese dialects,
ensuring that despite differences in spoken forms, the structure and
classification of sounds remain consistent and organized. This supports the
unity and flexibility of the Chinese writing and pronunciation system across
regions.
Here’s how the CE laws help explain and manage pronunciation
differences across Chinese dialects:
CE Laws and Dialect Pronunciation Differences
1. Rule-Based Pronunciation Assignment
- The
CE laws provide systematic rules for how Chinese characters are
pronounced, regardless of dialect. For example, CE Law 3 states that 形声
(phonetic loan) words should be pronounced identically to their sound tag,
while 会意
(sense determinator) words may have a span of pronunciations. This means
that even as dialects pronounce the same character differently, the
underlying logic for assigning pronunciation remains consistent.
2. Handling Polyphony Across Dialects
- CE
Law 5 formalizes that a character can have multiple pronunciations, each
tied to a different meaning. This is especially relevant in dialects,
where the same character may have distinct sounds and meanings depending
on the region. The law helps speakers and digital tools anticipate and
interpret these differences systematically.
3. Predicting Pronunciation for Characters Without
Explicit Sound Tags
- CE
Law 4 states that if a character lacks an explicit sound tag, its
pronunciation is borrowed from a synonym. This rule applies across
dialects, helping users and systems infer the correct sound even when
local pronunciations vary.
4. Structural Consistency Despite Phonetic Variation
- The
CE laws are dialect-agnostic: they apply to Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka,
Min, Wu, and other dialects. While the actual spoken sounds differ, the
laws ensure that the relationship between written form, sound, and meaning
is governed by the same principles everywhere.
5. Support for Homonyms and Homophones
- By
providing rules for how meaning and pronunciation interact, the CE laws
help manage the complexity of homonyms and homophones that arise from
dialectal variation. This makes it easier to distinguish words that sound
alike but have different meanings in different dialects.
In summary:
The CE laws offer a unified, rule-based framework for understanding and
predicting pronunciation differences across Chinese dialects. They ensure that,
despite regional variation in spoken language, the principles linking character
structure, sound, and meaning remain consistent and interpretable.
Seven,
Perfect language is defined with three criteria:
One, produce infinite (unlimited) words (vocabulary)
with a set of limited roots and rules.
Two, the word pronunciation must be read out from the
face of that word.
Three, the word meaning must be read out from the face
of the word.
1. Infinite Vocabulary from Limited Roots and Rules
Theory:
A perfect language should generate unlimited words using a finite set of roots
and combinatorial rules.
Chinese Analysis:
- Chinese
uses about 220 roots and 300 sound modules, but word formation is
recursive: new words and word phrases (multi-character compounds) are
continually generated from previous generations.
- Word
phrases (e.g., 摩天大樓 for “skyscraper”) act as single semantic tokens,
extending the generative power of the system.
- Even
transliterations and modern terms are often expressed as meaningful
compounds (e.g., 聲 納 for “sonar”: 聲 = sound, 納
= receive/encompass; 航 母 for “air carrier”: 航 = flight, 母
= mother/land), not just borrowed sounds.
Conclusion:
Chinese robustly meets this criterion, as its combinatorial and
recursive system allows for infinite vocabulary, with word phrases functioning
as single tokens for new concepts.
2. Word Pronunciation Must Be Read Out from the Face of
the Word
Theory:
A perfect language should allow speakers to deduce pronunciation directly from
the written form.
Chinese Analysis:
- Most
characters are constructed with explicit sound tags (形 声
words), making pronunciation inferable from the character’s components.
- Polyphony
(multiple pronunciations) is resolved by context and word phrases (e.g., 好 人
vs. 好
惡, 大
人 vs. 大 夫), so the intended pronunciation is clear in actual
usage.
- Dialectal
variation is handled by treating each dialect as an independent
sub-language, each internally consistent and meeting the criteria.
- For
characters lacking explicit sound tags, CE Law 4 provides a rule:
pronunciation is borrowed from synonyms, making this a systematic feature
rather than an exception.
Conclusion:
Chinese largely fulfills this criterion, especially when considering
word phrases and context. The CE laws ensure that all cases are covered by
systematic rules, not ad hoc exceptions.
3. Word Meaning Must Be Read Out from the Face of the
Word
Theory:
A perfect language should allow speakers to infer meaning directly from the
written form.
Chinese Analysis:
- Many
characters are 会 意 (sense determinator) words, where meaning is
inferred from the combination of radicals (e.g., 嘈 = 口
+ 曹
= noisy; 槽
= 木
+ 曹
= trough).
- Even
complex characters like 贏 (“winning”) are transparent if one understands the
etymological roots: 月 = meat, 貝 = treasure, 丸
= elixir, 亡
= none, 口
= person; “no one else gets these treasures” = “winning”.
- Homophones
and homonyms (e.g., 志, 誌, 痣 all pronounced zhì) are resolved by foundational
knowledge and context, not by memorization alone.
- Polysemy
(e.g., 相
with multiple meanings) is clarified by word phrases and context (e.g., 相 好
vs. 相
片), so meaning is clear in actual usage.
Conclusion:
With basic knowledge of radicals and etymology, all meanings are accessible
from the character’s structure. Word phrases and context further
disambiguate meaning, so the system remains transparent for users with
foundational knowledge.
Overall Assessment
After addressing the issues:
- Chinese,
as analyzed through the CE laws and with an understanding of its word
phrase system, robustly meets the “perfect language” criteria in theory
and practice.
- Apparent
exceptions (polyphony, dialectal variation, implicit sound tags, semantic
shifts) are resolved by deeper rules, context, and the recursive nature of
word formation.
- The
requirement for foundational knowledge is not a flaw, but a feature of any
systematic language.
Final Comment:
Chinese is indeed a “perfect language” as defined by these criteria. Its
systematic structure, recursive word formation, and context-driven
disambiguation make it deserve this title. The CE laws and word phrase logic
ensure that what appear as exceptions are actually governed by predictable,
learnable rules.
Here’s a direct comparison of Chinese and English regarding
the “perfect language” criteria, with analysis and examples:
Is There Another Perfect Language?
Using English as an Example
1. Infinite Vocabulary from Limited Roots and Rules
- Chinese:
- Uses
~220 roots and ~300 sound modules, with recursive compounding and word
phrases to generate unlimited vocabulary.
- Example:
摩天大樓
(“skyscraper”) is a compound word phrase, and new words are continually
created from existing roots and phrases.
- English:
- Uses
a finite set of morphemes (roots, prefixes, suffixes) and rules
(derivation, compounding) to generate a vast vocabulary.
- Example:
“unhappiness” = un- + happy + -ness; “skyscraper” = sky + scraper.
- Note:
English also borrows heavily from other languages, expanding its
vocabulary beyond native roots.
Comparison:
Both languages are highly generative, but Chinese’s system is more systematic
and recursive, while English relies more on borrowing and less on strict
combinatorial rules.
2. Word Pronunciation Must Be Read Out from the Face of
the Word
- Chinese:
- Most
characters (形 声) have explicit sound tags, making pronunciation
inferable from the written form.
- Word
phrases and context resolve polyphony and ambiguity.
- Example:
好 人
(hǎo rén) vs. 好 惡 (hào wù).
- English:
- English
spelling is not always phonetic; pronunciation often cannot be reliably
deduced from spelling.
- Example:
“ough” in “though,” “through,” “rough,” “cough” all pronounced
differently.
- Many
irregularities due to historical changes and borrowing.
Comparison:
Chinese is much closer to this criterion, especially for native speakers
with foundational knowledge. English spelling is notoriously inconsistent and often
fails this criterion.
3. Word Meaning Must Be Read Out from the Face of the
Word
- Chinese:
- Many
characters (会 意) and word phrases have meanings that can be
inferred from their components.
- Example:
嘈
= 口
(mouth) + 曹
(group) = noisy; 摩天大樓 = “scrape sky big building” = skyscraper.
- Context
and foundational knowledge resolve ambiguity.
- English:
- Some
compound words are transparent (“blackbird” = black + bird), but many are
not (“butterfly,” “pineapple”).
- Idioms,
semantic shifts, and borrowed words often obscure meaning.
- Example:
“butterfly” does not mean “butter” + “fly”; “pineapple” is not “apple”
from a pine.
Comparison:
Chinese is more systematic in linking form and meaning, especially for compound
words and phrases. English has many opaque words and idioms that do not meet
this criterion.
Comparison Table
|
Criterion |
|
|
|
Chinese
(PreBabel/CE Laws) |
|
|
|
|
English
(Western Linguistics) |
|
Infinite Vocabulary from Limited Roots |
|
|
|
Yes; recursive compounding, word phrases, systematic rules |
|
|
|
|
Yes; compounding, derivation, borrowing |
|
Pronunciation from Written Form |
|
|
|
Mostly yes; sound tags, word phrases, context, CE laws |
|
|
|
|
Often no; irregular spelling, inconsistent rules |
|
Meaning from Written Form |
|
|
|
Mostly yes; radicals, word phrases, context, CE laws |
|
|
|
|
Sometimes; many opaque compounds/idioms |
Conclusion
- Chinese
(as described by Gong and the CE laws) comes much closer to the
“perfect language” ideal than English, especially in terms of
systematic word formation, pronunciation, and meaning transparency.
- English
is highly generative but falls short in pronunciation and meaning
transparency due to irregular spelling, semantic shifts, and heavy
borrowing.
No other major natural language is currently known to
meet all three “perfect language” criteria as systematically as Chinese.
No comments:
Post a Comment