Essays on Writing and Language in Honor - Sino-Platonic Papers

S~h~ftftdtchri!: ,%sap in Honor of John DeFrancis
Like the Periodic Table of Elements, there are vacant positions in the
able of Typology of Writing Systems. The common types are: 1. picturelidea
writing, 2. idea/sound writing, 3, syllable writing, 4. consonant writing and
5. phoneme writing, The rest types are .rarely seen, Any writing system can
fin.d its position in this table.
Now Let us try to find the position in the Table of Typology of a few
writing systems.
(1) Ojibwa Love Letter (see Page 39, John DeFrancis: Visible Speech)
The meaning of this love letter is translated to be a Chinese poem by the
author of this paper as follows:
%%ma%, #%AWEJ?
%%Z%Rp %EeBi&o
%@aAm, BF*NrPRo
.'J\@FJ'@@t Bi!W#jlkn
In respect of symbol form, this letter is an integrated picture symbol.
In respect of speech segment, it is thesis segment. the longest of long
segments. In respect of expressing mode, i t is picture-drawing/idea-narrating.
It can be named in short as a picture/idea writing. Bear and Mud Puppy are
totems with weak function .of idea narrating to represent clans. The three road
lines have weak function of idea narrating in indicating directions.. Three
crosses have full function of idea narrating to represent three christians.
The hand in t.he west tent has full function of idea narrating to mean weicome.
This Letter is a picture with idea expressing to be understood between parties
with tacid agreement. Writings of tacid agreement have no social function of
communication,
(2) Yukaghir Love Letter (see page 25, John DeFrancis: Visible Speech)
The meaning of this Love letter is-translated to be a Chinese poem by the
author of this paper as follows:
33kE.5t-ZBAI E@&*%@*o
%@**%**? %**+rn$)LO
S%lL*%%%t &i$%+~Gsl;FgO
In respect of symbol form, it is not picture symbol, but symbols with the
nature of artificial characters knit together. In respect of speech segment,
it j s thesis segmeqt, not divided into paragraphs. In respect of expressing
mode, there is idea narrating without picture drawing, understandable between
tacit agreed parties. Umbrella forms indicate human beings, roof like lines
indicate houses, curve lines indicate love thinking, broken lines indicate
disappointment, cross lines indicate sorrow, and zig-zag net Lines indicate
quarrels, This letter is super speech. There iq no picture symbol in it.
neither there is any sound symbol. It can be named in short as pure idea