汉字的系统性与汉字认知

Chinese Character Systematic Structure and Chinese Character Recognition

汉字是记录汉语的符号体系,有其自身的系统性。探求汉字的系统性,并力所能及地对其加以利用,在汉字认知上具有显而易见的意义。汉字的偏旁不但具有构形的功能,而且具有表示音义的功能,因而合体汉字偏旁之间不仅有外部结构关系,也有内部结构关系。汉字的系统性体现在形、音、义3个方面,汉字的字形系统因外在的形体联系而形成,汉字的读音系统因内在的读音联系而形成,汉字的意义系统因内在的意义联系而形成。汉字虽然繁难,但认知得法也可以化难为易,至少可以减轻难度,提高效率。所谓得法,就是了解汉字内在的系统性,然后循着汉字的系统性去进行认知。为了减轻汉字认知的难度,提高汉字认知的效率,至少可以从以下几方面作出努力:其一,以必要的汉字的理论知识为指导,提高学习者汉字认知能力;其二,以偏旁为纲,把一个个汉字放到整个系统中去学习,力求取得纲举目张的效果;其三,通过结构分析和字族字系联来培养汉字系统认知能力。

Chinese characters are the set of symbols used to record the Chinese language, but more than just pictographs, they actually have a unique systematic structure. Study of this system and application thereof in education can have a very significant effect on the character recognition of students. The ＂radicals＂ of Chinese characters not only have a structural function, but also function as an expression of sound and meaning. Therefore there is not only an external structural relationship between the radicals of a character, but also an internal relationship as well. The systematic nature of Chinese characters is embodied in the following three aspects： shape, sound and meaning. The structure of characters is based on external shapes while the readings of characters are internal expressions of the readings of radicals. Similarly, the system of meaning in Chinese characters is a result of the internal relationships of the meanings of different radicals. Although Chinese characters are difficult due to their complexity, a ＂proper method＂ of recognizing characters can make studying them easy or at least reduce somewhat the difficulty of studying them and increase efficiency in learning characters. This so - called ＂proper method＂ is one that emphasizes an understanding of the internal systematic nature of Chinese characters, then uses that understanding to improve recognition. To decrease the difficulty of learning Chinese characters and increase efficiency in recognizing them, the three following steps are keys： 1. using essential theoretical knowledge of Chinese characters as a guide for improving the ability of learners to recognize characters; 2. using ＂radicals＂ as the basis for putting all Chinese characters into a comprehensive system, allowing the concept and logic of Chinese characters to fall into place; 3. using analysis of the structure of Chinese characters and the Concept of character ＂families＂ and ＂branches＂ to develop the ability of students to utilize systematic recognition.