Why didn't China transition from pictographs to an alphabetic system? Other civilizations used pictographs and later switched to an alphabetic system when they realized that pictographs were too cumbersome. Notably the Sumerian and Nubian civilizations transitioned, but why didn't China?
2007-03-04 12:44:48 · 4 answers · asked by Antson 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
I mean earlier in their history perhaps when they encountered traders of civilizations of simpler written language? I am aware that China was a proud nation calling itself the middle kingdom, but is there any other information?
2007-03-04 20:35:48 · update #1
Actually it's ideogram, not pictograph. And it's a language used by billions of people. Make all this changed? I don't think so.
2007-03-04 19:48:57 · answer #1 · answered by nofj2 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chinese characters are not pictograms. They are ideograms. Each character (or portion thereof) represents a concept, not a physical picture of a thing.
2007-03-04 12:52:44 · answer #2 · answered by Stimpy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's very traditional writing and the characters have already been memorized, so why change? they also are used to it and fell it's easier. im chinese
2007-03-04 12:53:18 · answer #3 · answered by Hope I can hel[ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They didnt feel like it
2007-03-04 12:48:01 · answer #4 · answered by WORLD FAMOUS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋