Adopting Chinese/Kanji characters into English

[Ash]

So I've been thinking, what if we started using Chinese characters in English? There is a large amount of overlap between Kanji and Hanzi/Chinese. For example "車" means "car" in both Japanese and Traditional Chinese, so there is no reason why it couldn't mean that in English too.

China also has multiple spoken languages that can't understand each other, but if they write something down it is mutually intelligible. Japan already uses three (four if you count Romaji) writing systems together, so mixing different systems wouldn't be a problem either.

Start teaching kids Chinese characters in school and we could probably have people reading it in one or two generations in the west.

[Crowbot]

I HATE Kanji. It's one of the main reason I gave up learning Japanese.

[BossGalaga]

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

So I've been thinking, what if we started using Chinese characters in English? There is a large amount of overlap between Kanji and Hanzi/Chinese. For example "車" means "car" in both Japanese and Traditional Chinese, so there is no reason why it couldn't mean that in English too.

I think someone has been watching Bladerunner. ;)

[AustrAlien2010]

Can't. There's no such key on keyboards.

[Schindler's Lifts]

I imagine westerners today aren't keen on learning Chinese for the same reason why an American in the early 40's isn't keen on learning German.

[Irene ❤]

I know both languages. : D

OP missed out a point that Japan have only borrowed China's writing system. The pronouncing of words are still different.

A-Z alphabets and Chinese alphabets were early writing inventions. Many countries in that era do not have a writing system, so they have borrow them and overtime modify them slightly. Hence it is not possible for A-Z users to include Chinese, because it's 2 entirely different writing system.

It will be complicated if they were mixed - in terms of grammar, writing style and pronounce. "The assignment my boss gave me is un做able"

If the writing system can be reinvented in future, I propose one with numbers involved.
He looks cute6 and he looks cute9 can communicate better than he looks 'very' cute. : P

[iceman1980]

CCP Stooge account has been detected.

[trousers]

my short answer is "no"

my medium answer is that ideograms aren't more efficient (or rational) than other writing systems, and they tend to work best for languages that evolved them as part of their writing systems. there would be no practical gain for English. however, it would be kind of cool as part of a more general language curriculum, if students were taught how different writing systems work and given a basic understanding of them. along with other similar things. it would mildly reduce the number of people who get embarrassing tattoos in languages they don't speak

my long answer is too long

my joke answer is 「鬱」

my jokiest answer is all the character variants for the concept of 'biangbiang noodles' in one big list

edit: whoa i said 'writing systems' a few too many times here

[iceman1980]

Escrito originalmente por beach, please:

my short answer is "no"

my medium answer is that ideograms aren't more efficient (or rational) than other writing systems, and they tend to work best for languages that evolved them as part of their writing systems. there would be no practical gain. however, it would be kind of cool as part of a more general language curriculum, if students were taught how different writing systems work and given a basic understanding of them. along with other similar things. it would mildly reduce the number of people who get embarrassing tattoos in languages they don't speak

my long answer is too long

my joke answer is 「鬱」

my jokiest answer is all the character variants for the concept of 'biangbiang noodles' in one big list

There are definitely benefits to knowing more than one language mentally. But I'd rather know, French, German, Greek, Italian or any other language but Chinese.

[Z i o ⚡]

I don't think English language needs that. Would you also use the Chinese pronunciations too? What would be the point? Is it so people can know some Chinese/Kanji characters already, in case they want to learn more? I think it would just make more sense to try teaching some of it on its own if that would be the reason.

[iceman1980]

Escrito originalmente por Z i o d y n e:

I don't think English language needs that. Would you also use the Chinese pronunciations too? What would be the point? Is it so people can know some Chinese/Kanji characters already, in case they want to learn more? I think it would just make more sense to try teaching some of it on its own if that would be the reason.

I think the justification the OP is trying to get at is because the English language has elements which are borrowed from other languages. English has a mix of Latin, English, Greek, Italian and other words mixed in, but using Chinese characters would just complicate things, even at the programming level. Software would have to be written to accommodate it and the English language is kind of bastardised enough.

That being said knowing depending on your career, knowing other languages is of enormous benefit. Example would be a boarder security officer or a government intelligence analyst.

[Ash]

Escrito originalmente por Irene ❤:

I know both languages.

OP missed out a point that Japan have only borrowed China's writing system. The pronouncing of words are still different.

A-Z alphabets and Chinese alphabets were early writing inventions. Many countries in that era do not have a writing system, so they have borrow them and overtime modify them slightly. Hence it is not possible for A-Z users to include Chinese, because it's 2 entirely different writing system.

It will be complicated if they were mixed - in terms of grammar, writing style and pronounce. "The assignment my boss gave me is un做able" :erune:

If the writing system can be reinvented in future, I propose one with numbers involved.
He looks cute6 and he looks cute9 can communicate better than he looks 'very' cute. : P

I actually pointed that out several times :p

[Ash]

Escrito originalmente por Product ∏:

Escrito originalmente por Z i o d y n e:

I don't think English language needs that. Would you also use the Chinese pronunciations too? What would be the point? Is it so people can know some Chinese/Kanji characters already, in case they want to learn more? I think it would just make more sense to try teaching some of it on its own if that would be the reason.

Software would have to be written to accommodate it and the English language is kind of bastardised enough.

Unicode seems to handle that just fine. I can even post right to left اللغة العربية or עִברִית in the middle of LTR English text, along with some 漢字 all in the same sentence. Add in some ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ for good measure.

[Eat3n]

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

Escrito originalmente por Jej:

Just because Europe has multiple languages doesn't mean everyone wants to learn every single one. Hell, most people just learn English as a second language and never bother learning a third one.

Mandarin makes more sense as a lingua franca because it has more native speakers than English.

Incorrect, English is the most spoken AND across more countries.

[trousers]

Escrito originalmente por Jesus:

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

Mandarin makes more sense as a lingua franca because it has more native speakers than English.

Incorrect, English is the most spoken AND across more countries.

Mandarin does have the most native speakers, but English has the most native+non-native speakers combined. Though to what degree they actually speak it is up for debate.

Of course, the entire point of a lingua franca is that it's something that non-native speakers use

[iceman1980]

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

Escrito originalmente por Product ∏:

Software would have to be written to accommodate it and the English language is kind of bastardised enough.

Unicode seems to handle that just fine. I can even post right to left اللغة العربية or עִברִית in the middle of LTR English text, along with some 漢字 all in the same sentence. Add in some ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ for good measure.

You are clearly a little-pink 50 cent member.