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Three Pointe Dr.
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Features articles of interest on language translation and
localization, culture, language technology and other related topics.
The goal of the
Global Advisor
Newsletter is to
inform and entertain. |
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Contents:
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The evolution of Kan'ji characters |
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A few Kan'ji characters and their English meaning |
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Exchanging Words
with France |
The evolution of Kan'ji characters
To the Japanese, Kan'ji characters are more than writing symbols, they are an art form. Some are based on visual shapes, others represent abstract concepts and others are combined to form expressions, such as to get together, which is formed by the character for mouth added to the character for close.
Throughout its thousands of years of history, China has generated more than 50,000 Kan'ji characters. More than 9,000 of these existed already in 98 AD and were explained in a book dating back to that year. Some Kan'ji characters originated in Japan.
A few Kan'ji characters and their English meaning
Have you ever wondered how the pictorial characters developed from idea to its current Kan'ji form? The table below is an attempt to relate the Kan'ji character to the object it depicts. If you look carefully, you can see how the shape of the character came to be and, perhaps, help you to remember the meaning of these characters the next time you see them.
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Sun |
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Water |
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Mountain | |
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Moon |
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Eye |
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Mouth | |
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Hand |
Exchanging Words with France
English and French have exchanged many words over the years. Some French words have adopted new meanings as they have become assimilated into our English vocabulary. Therefore, when you see a word in French that looks and sounds like an English word, be aware that it could have a different meaning. Here are a few examples:
English |
Meaning |
French |
Meaning |
| Auditor | A listener (e.g. a student who audits a class) | Auditeur | Un expert comptable |
| Correct | Exact | Correct | According to the rules, in good taste |
| Germ | Disease transmitting microbe | Germe | Seed (e.g. Wheat) |
| Library | Bibliothèque | Librairie | Bookstore |
| Money | Argent | Monnaie | Change, coins |
| Physicist | Physicien | Médecin | Physician |
| Translation | Transfer | Traduction | Translation |
| Intoxication | Ivresse | Intoxication | Poisoning |
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