A dissertation on the nature and character of the Chinese system of writing. To which are subjoined a vocabulary of the Cochin Chinese language by J. Morrone [&c.].

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Published for the American Philosophical Society, 1838 - 375 trang
 

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Trang 6 - ... (without acknowledging credit to Newton) from the letters of 1676, and that he had learned of Newton's work during his brief visits to London in 1673 and 1676 (although he and Newton never met). Eventually, inferences became public charges of plagiarism. Leibniz in 1711 appealed for redress from the Royal Society of London (of which he was a member and Newton the president). The Royal Society appointed a commission which ruled in 1712, in a decision that was evidently stage-managed by Newton,...
Trang xxviii - Loo-chooan, are polysyllabic, and have inflections and grammatical forms, although they may employ Chinese characters in their alphabet, cannot possibly understand Chinese books and manuscripts, unless they have learned the Chinese language ; and that if those nations whose languages are monosyllabic, and who use the Chinese characters lexigraphically, can understand Chinese writings without knowing the language, it can only be to a limited extent, which it is one of the objects of this publication...
Trang xxviii - That it may be applied to a monosyllabic language, formed on the model of the Chinese. ; but that it will necessarily receive modifications and alterations, which will produce material differences in the value and significations of the characters between different languages, however similar in their original structure ; and therefore, 7. That nations, whose languages like the Japanese, and, as...
Trang 15 - C'est bienfait. The difference does not appear in the rapidity of speech, we are only aware of it by the typographical arrangement of the syllables. It is therefore of no consequence whether the Chinese language, as spoken, be called monosyllabic or polysyllabic, but it is important to know that every one of its syllables is a word, and as each character represents a syllable, which is called its pronunciation, it necessarily follows that each character represents a word."—pp.
Trang xxvii - In the first case it is lexigraphic, in the second syllabic, and in the third alphabetical or elementary. " 5. That the lexigraphic system of the Chinese cannot be applied to a polysyllabic language, having inflections and grammatical forms; and that there is no example of its being so applied, unless partially or occasionally, or as a special elliptical and enigmatical mode of communication, limited in its uses; but not as a general system of writing intended for common use. " 6. That it may be...
Trang 20 - ... enjoy themselves, or to display their powers in familiar intercourse. The most important part even of their formal visits are the written cards, announcing, accepting, and returning thanks for them. Speech is considered altogether a secondary and subordinate mode of communication. The idea, therefore, of making the written subservient to the spoken language, seems never once to have occurred to the mind of a Chinese.
Trang xv - We take the liberty to define it thus :—'The association or combining of several words in their appropriate characters to represent another word.' Thus we combine the letters of our alphabet to give them a meaning which, separately, they have not. The Chinese combine their significant characters to give to the groups thus formed a meaning which none of them possess separately. The meaning is in the words to which the characters are applied, and that meaning they only hint at by the association...
Trang xxvi - I should observe, that this admission does not in the least militate against the principles which I have laid down ; and that if the Loo-chooans, as appears probable, speak a polysyllabic Japanese dialect, they do not apply the Chinese characters to it otherwise than the Japanese themselves. On this subject I must refer the reader to what I have said in my Dissertation, and...
Trang 97 - ... to be laid down in all the dangerous parts of the coast, and surveys to be made of the principal bays and harbours. The officers of the navy were instructed in naval tactics by Frenchmen ; his army was divided into regular regiments ; military schools were established, and the officers taught the science of gunnery. Unfortunately for the country, the death of Adran occurred shortly after this ; and with him expired many of the wholesome laws, institutions, and regulations established by him.
Trang 106 - Chinese characters are in direct connection with the Chinese spoken words, they can only be read and understood by those who are familiar with the oral language. I do not mean to say that they cannot be applied to other monosyllabic idioms (and they are, in fact, applied even to polysyllabic languages, as I shall presently show), I only contend that their meaning cannot be understood alike in the different languages in which they are used. You very well know, my dear sir, how various are the forms...

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