Comparison of Arabic and Chinese Writing Systems

Running head:ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS
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1ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS
Introduction
The emergence of writing system further known as script, characters or orthography is
regarded as one of the most significant achievements to humankind. According to Perfetti and
Harris (2013), the art of primitive tool making to the days of contemporary expertise, it has been
believed that homo sapiens have travelled a long way in order to reinstate ancient stones and
bricks to pen and paper and even advanced electronic gadgets in recent times. Eminent authors
like Saiegh-Haddad and Henkin-Roitfarb (2014) mentioned that without the emergence of
writing, the development of human civilization and knowledge would not have been achievable
have mentioned it. This paper will intend to focus on two of the major writing systems of the
world namely, the Arabic writing system and the Chinese writing system. In addition to this, the
report will further shed light on the origin, characteristics of these two writing system by
evaluating their respective phonetics, logograms, segments as well as signs in order to implicitly
understand the two writing systems.
Section
Section 1: Arabic Writing System
According to Sahlolet al. (2014), the foundation of the Arabic writing system can be
traced to the conceptualization of inscription and writing of the people belonging to the semi-
nomadic Nabataean tribal community, who colonized the southern region of Syria and Jordan,
along with other areas such as Northern Arabia as well as the Sinai Peninsula. It has been
believed that the stone inscriptions existing in writings of Nabataean reveal immense likenesses
to the contemporary form of Arabic writing method. As per Blucheet al. (2014), Arabic scripting
system comprises mostly of consonants and vowel along with the certain level of modifications

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on the similar fundamental letter shapes utilized to create a representation of a varied number of
resonance and sounds. The alphabetical range of Arabic system includes eighteen figures and
shapes that express around twenty-eight phonetic sounds by the aid of diacritical symbols.
Arabic is written from the right hand side continuing to the left. While the figures or numbers are
written from left to right. However, Perfetti and Harris (2013) noted that until the beginning of
twentieth century, the concept of punctuation marks was not implemented. Furthermore, short
vowels, which are signified by a range of symbols and marks, positioned below or above the
letters facilitate in the process of pronunciation as well as articulation of a word. They further
stated that these set of symbols are only present in the Quran, ‘the holy book of Islam’, whereby
there is immense significance of proper recitation and citations are essential for the beginners or
novice readers. The alphabets of the Arab language according to Saiegh-Haddad and Henkin-
Roitfarb (2014), further regarded as ‘Arabiyyah’ is referred as scripts or writings used to inscribe
a large numbers of languages in varied geographical regions. However, the Modern Standard
Arabic Method of Writing is regarded as a standardized as well as literary form of the language
that is used in majority of the formal speech across the Arab region in order to facilitate effective
communication. According to Rojo (2014), the Modern Standard Arabic is considered as an
esteemed variety. Brierleyet al.(2016) formulate the concept of Diglossia that is a term used for
two different variations of similar language is characteristically regarded as a division in purpose
and utilization between MSA and the nationwide spoken range of Arabic language. However,
being employed in formal as well as official contexts, MSA is not widely used by the Arabic
speakers during a regular means of interpersonal communication.