Conversation started Jul 25, 2015 at 19:46.
Anonymous
Jul 25, 2015 19:46
@inɒzɘmɒЯ.A.M Originally, in Old Chinese, there was almost a one-to-one correspondence between characters and words.
Anonymous
For this reason, the hanzi ('Han characters') are called a logographic script
inɒzɘmɒЯ.A.M
inɒzɘmɒЯ.A.M
Dang!
The Chinese naturally like quantity, hehe.
Anonymous
The Chinese languages have been moving gradually toward two characters per word
Anonymous
As they become phonologically reduced
Anonymous
Mandarin has the most simplified syllables, so it naturally has the most two-syllable words
Anonymous
Jul 25, 2015 19:48
Other Chinese languages have more one-syllable words, even today
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Thai is more like other Chinese languages in this respect.
Anonymous
Cantonese, for example, has retained more syllable codas and has more tones, so its syllables are more unique, and there's less need for compounding
Anonymous
Mandarin is exceptional in how simplified the syllables have become
inɒzɘmɒЯ.A.M
inɒzɘmɒЯ.A.M
<noise>Meatie's slowly gaining repz again, and haz a new question.</noise>
Anonymous
In Japanese, Chinese characters tend not to represent single words, though sometimes they do.
Anonymous
Jul 25, 2015 19:51
What we can say is that Chinese characters almost always represent single syllables in all the Chinese languages
Anonymous
I know there are exceptions, but they aren't very common.
 
Conversation ended Jul 25, 2015 at 19:51.