A-The secret behind how Chinese characters work - Gina Marie Elia

 https://youtu.be/U0EySK4T2aY?si=VEN8UpR2nf2P-Dtj

1. What's interesting in the video?

The origin legend of Chinese characters imbues them with a sense of mystery; it is said that when Cangjie created the characters, it drizzled and ghosts cried, signifying the sacredness and immense influence of writing. Secondly, the history of Chinese characters is very long, dating back to the Shang Dynasty from 1250 to 1050 BCE, showcasing their longevity as a written language. Chinese characters were initially pictographs, directly representing the things they depicted, such as "人" (person) and "木" (tree). These basic characters are still in use today, demonstrating the close connection between text and imagery. Modern Chinese characters are composed of semantic and phonetic components, allowing them to convey complex concepts and sounds while retaining their meaning. Despite the different dialects in China, written Chinese is unified, and this writing system is not only widely used in China but also has a profound influence on neighboring languages and writing systems, such as Japanese. In the 1950s and 60s, China simplified its characters, while Hong Kong and Taiwan continued using traditional characters, reflecting the political and cultural impacts on the development of writing. Chinese does not have verb conjugations or grammatical gender, making its grammar relatively simple compared to many other languages. These features collectively showcase the uniqueness and richness of Chinese characters, making them not just a writing tool but a cultural symbol.

2. The subject of the video and my thoughts

The theme of the video is the origin, evolution, and impact of Chinese characters. Specifically, it introduces the mythological origin, historical development, structural features, grammatical characteristics, changes between simplified and traditional characters, and the influence of Chinese characters on neighboring languages. My view is that the video fully demonstrates the uniqueness and complexity of Chinese characters as a writing system. From their mysterious origins in legend to the tangible evidence in Shang dynasty oracle bones, the development of Chinese characters is rich with cultural and historical significance. Chinese characters are not only a crucial part of Chinese culture but have also profoundly influenced the languages and writing systems of other East Asian countries. Their origin as pictographs and unique construction methods allow Chinese characters to maintain high levels of artistry and practicality in modern times. The text also highlights the unifying role of written Chinese across various dialects in China, showcasing its value as a communication tool that transcends time and space.

3. What is related to the course?

I believe the content of the video relates to sociology's themes of religion and belief, as well as symbolic interactionism. The video mentions ghosts being fearful of the "moral consequences" of writing, reflecting the importance placed on supernatural forces and religious beliefs in ancient society. Sociology examines how religion and beliefs influence social behavior and cultural values. Meanwhile, Chinese characters, as pictographs and ideographs, demonstrate how symbols convey information and meaning. Symbolic interactionism explores how people interact and communicate through symbols, and how these symbols shape social reality.