Sekinan Table

Wednesday, 2 July 2025

Functional Analysis 2 Conjecture 1 Generation of Word 2008 / Note 2 Orthogonal Decomposition 2008

Functional Analysis Note 2 Orthogonal Decomposition 2008

Functional Analysis 2

Note 2

Orthogonal Decomposition

TANAKA Akio

1 <Linear operator>

Normed space V

Subset of V D

Element of D x

Element of normed space V₁Tx

Mapping T : x → Tx∈V₁

The mapping T is called operator.

Domain of T D(T)

Range of T R(T)

T satisfies next condition, T is called continuous at point x₀.

Arbitrary ε> 0

Adequate δ> 0

x∈D, ||x-x₀|| < δ ⇒ ||Tx – Tx₀|| <ε

Operators that are continuous at every point of D are called continuous.

T satisfies next condition, T is called linear operator.

T(αx+βy) =αTx+βTy

T satisfies next condition, T is called bounded linear operator.

(i) D(T) =V₁

(ii) ||Tx||≦γ||x|| γ>0

Infimum of γ is called norm of T, that is notated by ||T||.

||T|| = inf { γ : ||Tx||≦γ||x|| (x∈V)}

2 <Inverse operator>

Linear operator from normed space V to Normed space V₁ T

N ( T ) := { x : x∈D(T), Tx = 0 }

When T is bounded linear operator, N ( T ) is closed subset of V.

When T has one versus one correspondence between D(T) and R(T), inverse mapping T^-1 is linear operator from V₁ to V.

D(T^-1) = R(T) , R(T^-1) = D(T)

(T^-1)^-1= T

When T satisfies next condition, there exists inverse operator T^-1.

x∈D(T), Tx = 0 ⇒ x = 0 or N ( T ) = { 0 }

When T satisfied next condition, there exists continuous inverse operator T^-1.

x₁, x₂, …∈D(T), lim_n_→∞Tx= 0 ⇒ lim_n_→∞x_n= 0

3 <Orthogonal decomposition>

(1)

Two elements of linear space V x, y

0≦α≦1

Segment between x and y [x, y] : = αx +(1-α)y

When 0<α<1, [x, y] is called inner point

Set of V A

x, y ∈A satisfies segment [x, y]∈A, a is called vertex set.

Minimum vertex set containing A is called vertex hull that is notated by C (A ).

Minimum strongly closed vertex set is called closed vertex hull.

As strongly closed and weakly closed are equal, closed vertex hull is called closed vertex set.

Hilbert space H

Closed vertex set of H A

x∉A

Element that is the nearest from x x_A

x_A∈A

y∈A, y≠x_A

||x-x_A|| <||x-y||

(2)

Hilbert space H

Arbitrary subset of H A

When A satisfies next condition, A is called orthogonal complement, that is notated by A^⊥.

A^⊥ : = { x ; (x, y) = 0, (y∈A)}

A^⊥is closed subspace of H.

(3)

Closed subspace of H K

Arbitrary x∈H

x is uniquely decomposed to the next.

x = x_K+ x’, x_K∈K, x’∈K^⊥

4 <Functional>

Hilbert space H

Subspace of H D

Linear functional is defined by the next.

α,β∈C, x, y∈D

f (αx+βy) =αfx +βfy

When f satisfies next condition, f is called bounded linear functional.

|f(x)| ≦γ||x|| (x∈H)

γ >0

Functional’s norm || f || is defined by the next.

|| f || = inf { γ : | f (x) |≦γ||x|| (x∈H)}

5 <Riesz Theorem>

Bounded linear functional over H f

There uniquely exists x₀∈H that is satisfies the next.

f (x) = ( x, x₀) (x∈H)

|| f || = || x₀ ||

5 Adjoint operator

Bounded linear operator over H T

T : x →(Tx, y)∈C

T is bounded linear functional.

y* is uniquely defined by Riesz theorem.

(Tx, y) = (x, y*)

T ’s adjoint operator is defined by the next.

(Tx, y) = (x, T*y) (x, y∈H)

T* satisfies the next.

(i) || T* || = || T ||

(ii) ( T + S )* = T* + S*

(iii) (αT )* =

(iiii) (TS)* = S*T*

(v) (T*)* = T

Bounded linear operator that is A = A* is called self-adjoint operator.

Bounded linear operator that is UU* = U*U = I is called unitary operator.

Bounded linear operator that is next condition is called isometric operator.

(i) || U || = 1

(ii) || Ux || = || x || ( x∈H )

(iii) (Ux, Uy ) = ( x, y ) ( x, y∈H )

(iiii) U*U = I

6 Projection operator

Hilbert space H

Closed subset K

Decomposition x = x_K+ x’ ( x_K∈K, x’∈K^⊥)

Operator that is corresponded with x∈H to x_Kis called projection operator over K.

Projection operator P_Khas next quality.

(i) P_KH = R ( P_K ) = K

(ii) x⊥K ⇌ P_Kx= 0

7 Weak convergent

Hilbert space H

Sequence of H x₁, x₂, …

x₀∈H

lim _n_→∞(x_n, x) = (x₀, x) Notation is also w-lim _n_→∞x_n = x₀

x₁, x₂, … is called weakly convergent to x₀.

x₀is called weak limit.

Normal orthogonal system is weakly convergent to 0.

Strongly convergent and weakly convergent are equal in complex Hilbert space.

Sequence of bounded linear operators T₁, T₂, …

(i) Uniformly convergent lim _n_→∞||T_n–T||= 0

(ii) Strongly convergent lim _n_→∞T_nx = Tx (x∈H)

(iii) Weakly convergent w- lim _n_→∞T_nx = Tx (x∈H)

[References]

Mirror Theory / Tokyo June 5, 2004

Guarantee of Language / Tokyo June 12, 2004

Warp Theory / Tokyo October 24, 2004

Tokyo June 3, 2008

Sekinan Research Field of Language

Functional Analysis 2 Conjecture 1 Generation of Word 2008

Functional Analysis 2

Conjecture 1

Generation of Word

TANAKA Akio

1 Let it be supposed that meaning of word is expressed in pre-Hilbert space H.

2 There exists Hilbert space H^~ that contains pre-Hilbert space H as dense subspace

3 H’s linear operation and inner product is in H^~.

4 Extension of meaning at word is guaranteed in space.

5 Geometrically let it be supposed that word is open sphere which is countable closed set.

6 Language is considered in succession of spheres that is expressed as <Quantum Theory for Language>.

[References]

Functional Analysis 2 / Note 1 / Pre-Hilbert space and Hilbert space / Tokyo May 30, 2008

Clifford Algebra / Conjecture 1 / Meaning Product / Tokyo January 21, 2008

Tube-Ring Theory / Cut and Glue / Cut-tube-ring generates multi dimensional world. / Tokyo July 7, 2006

Functional Analysis / Note 1 / Baire’s Category Theorem / [Baire’s Category Theorem] / Tokyo May 9, 2008

Quantum Theory for Language Synopsis / Tokyo January 15, 2004

Tokyo May 30, 2008

Sekinan Research Field of Language

Kac-Moody Lie Algebra, Operator Algebra, Holomorphic Meaning Theory 2, Holomorphic Meaning Theory, Functional Analysis 2 and so forth 2008

Sunday, 29 June 2025

On immanent time in characters 2003 Japanese Original Edition

文字に内在する時間性について

田中章男

　　言語類型論で孤立語に分類されてきた漢語で使用される文字、すなわち漢字の生成と機能について、考察を試みる。

　漢字の初期の形態については、殷墟等で発見された甲骨文によって確認できるが、通常五期に区分される甲骨文の第１期において、甲骨文はすでに初期的な完成を示しており、漢字自体の原初的な形態を推測することは難しい。甲骨文を組み合わせた語彙および統辞についても、ほぼ初期的な完成を示している。ここで初期的な完成というのは、現代漢語による理解乃至推察が可能なことを意味する。　したがってここで述べる漢字の生成と機能は、甲骨文以降の副次的なものである。個々の甲骨文の字形形成の状況、すなわち解字的説明については、すでに多くの研究が蓄積されている。ここではそれらのうち、主に１９９０年代以降の業績を援用しながら、考察を進める。

一　漢字の生成

　漢字「育」の甲骨文を見ると、この字が、女性による出産時の状況を示していることは疑いえない。この甲骨文において、出産の状況は、３つの要素によって示される。第一に、両腕を胸前で交差させた女性が出産に臨む時の体形である。女性は前傾姿勢をとり、臀部を突き出し、膝をゆるやかに屈折している。第二に出産時に伴う破水の状況が、点線様の記号で示されている。第三に、この破水の中央部分か下部に新生児が頭部を下に向けて示されている。この甲骨文で図示された３要素によって、「育」の字が、女性による、出産時およびその直後の状況を示していることが明示される。

　漢字「言」の甲骨文を見ると、その字形がすでにその一期において、すでに相当程度の簡略化乃至は変形化を受けているために、これまでも解字的説明がさまざまに展開されたが、ここでは、中国考古学の成果を含めた近年の一解釈を示す。漢字「言」の形態は、その上部、中部および下部の三部分として、見ることが可能である。中国考古学の成果によれば、その上部は、殷の時代において、会議等の開催を示す、銅鐸様の鈴の内部につるされた鈴舌であるとされる。漢字「言」の中部は、鈴舌そのものを示す。漢字「言」の下部は、鈴の外部を示すものとされる。殷の時代においては、会議等の開催を知らせるときに、銅鐸様の鈴を打ち鳴らして関係者に知らせ、その会議の開催時には、その鈴をテーブルの上に逆さに置いたとされる。すなわち、形態的には鈴の本体が下に、鈴舌の部分が上になって置かれたとされる。これが「言」の字の甲骨文の字形となったとする。この解字によれば、「言」の甲骨文は、鈴による会議開催告示後の状況を示すものとすることができる。会議はことばによってなされる。したがって、逆さの鈴の象形化が、「言」の甲骨文となった。

　漢字「亘」の甲骨文を見ると、二本の水平な線の中に弓形の文様が示される。王国維は、つとにこの甲骨文を漢字「恒」と同定した。今はこの見解に従う。上下の二本は川の両岸であり、中央の弓形はその両岸を往来する舟とする。この解字によれば、「亘」あるいは「恒」は、同一の空間に恒常的に繰り返される渡船作業を示している。

　三つの漢字「育」「言」「亘」の甲骨文から、以下のことが帰納乃至推測される。

　第一に、漢字の祖形である甲骨文は、時間的経過を内在させることがある。すなわち、「育」においては、出産の開始から終了までであり、「言」おいては、会議の告示から開催中までであり、「亘」においては、渡船作業の継続である。

　第二に、漢字の祖形である甲骨文は、内在する時間的経過の途上でおこるさまざまな事象の一局面が複数にわたって図像化乃至暗示されることがある。すなわち、「育」のおいては、母体、破水、新生児であり、「言」においては、倒置された鈴がその前時間に継起した会議の告示の振鈴と、その後の会議開始によるテーブル等への安置を暗示する。「亘」においては、両岸と渡船の存在が渡船作業を示す。

　第三に、漢字の祖形である甲骨文は、事象の複数の局面を内在させることによって、複数の情報を伝達することがある。「育」においては、母体による出産、出産途上の状況、新生児の誕生等の情報が、一字によって同時に伝達される。「言」においては、会議の告示、会議の開始、会議で話し合われた内容等の情報が伝達され、「亘」においては、渡船作業、対岸への到達、作業の繰り返し、すなわち恒常性等の情報が伝達される。

　したがって以上のような漢字生成に関する帰納乃至推測から、次のような漢字の機能が導かれる。

二　漢字の機能

第一に、個々の漢字に内在する時間的局面は、その局面のもっとも特徴的な情報を伝達しようとする傾向が強い。「育」の字においては、出産時の状況は、母体の出産動作そのものがもっとも特徴的であるが、出産後は新生児の存在が特徴的となる。漢字一字が持つ文法的機能の多様さは、こうした甲骨文に内在する、時間性の幅とその特徴的事象の内容に起因する。

「育」においては、出産時の局面では、いわゆる「うむ」という動詞的局面が強調されるが、出産後は「新生児」といういわゆる名詞的局面が強調される。「言」においては、会議前には「告げ知らせる」局面が強調されるが、会議開催中および開催後は、多分に会議での「発言内容」の局面が強調されるであろう。「告げ知らせる」局面が、多分に動詞的であり、「発言内容」の局面では、多分に名詞的機能が優先されるであろう。

　第二は、二字以上の漢字が組み合わされたとき、個々の漢字は、自らに内在する、時間の枠組から、どれかひとつの時間的局面を特に強調して、他の漢字と関係を結ぼうとする。二局面以上を伝達しようとすることは、伝達の明瞭性を傷つけるからである。「育」の字について見るならば、「育女」では「女児を生む」ことであり、「育嬰」では「すでに生まれている子どもをそだてる」ことである。「育女」では「育」の字は、より多く「母体からの出産状況」にかかわり、「育嬰」ではより多く「すでに誕生した新生児」の情報にかかわるであろう。

　第三は、個々の漢字に内在する時間的局面はしばしば複数性を持つが、漢字を組み合わせるときにはその個々の漢字の局面選択の択一性が働くことによって、互いに優先された局面同士によって二つ以上の漢字が、ひとつのより複合的な局面を形成して、その複合局面の情報伝達の明瞭性を保持することができる。たとえば「恒言」という２字の組み合わせにおいては、「恒」は「恒常性」の局面を選択し、「言」は「発言する」という局面を選択する。

　それでは、個々の漢字が局面選択を行うとき、どのような漢字内の機能が働くのであろうか。また、優先された局面同士が提携するとき、どのような機能が漢字の外部に向かって提示されるのであろうか。

三　漢字機能の自己選択性

　二つ以上の漢字が組み合わされ、新たな複合的な一局面が形成される状況を、「恒言」について検討する。ところが、「言恒」という組み合わせにおいては、新たな一局面は形成されず、漢字それぞれが有する一局面が二つ連続すると見るのが一般である。このような違いはどうして起こるのであろうか。私はここにも、漢字に内在する時間性がかかわると判断する。

　漢字に内在する時間には比較的短時間のものから、長時間に及ぶものまで多様である。二つの時間が連続するとき、前の漢字の時間性が長時間であり、後ろの漢字が短時間であるとき、この二つの漢字は緊密に結びつき、新たな複合的一局面を形成しやすいが、この逆の場合、すなわち前字が短時間で、後字が長時間であるときは、この二つの漢字は新たな複合的局面を形成しにくく、それぞれの局面が独立的に連続する傾向を持つ。

　「恒言」において、「恒」は「永続的な長時間」を内在させるのに対し、「言」は一過的な短時間を内在させる。このように、長時間内在型の漢字と後続する短時間内在型の漢字は、新たな複合局面を形成するが、短時間型の漢字と後続する長時間型の漢字は複合局面を形成しにくい。したがって、「恒言」は一つの語となり、「言恒」は二つの語で一つの文となる。

　すなわち類型論で孤立語の属するとされる漢語においては、一切の語形変化的な現象を有しないために、しばしば、その文法的な構造、漢語においては特に語と語の切れ目とその文法的な機能が問題となってきたが、漢字に内在する時間性およびその組み合わせ時における局面選択性によって、新たな複合局面が形成されたか、個別局面の連続かが区別されるとするならば、漢語における語彙形成と統語構造に展望がひらけるものとなる。

　漢字に内在する自己選択性とは、後続する漢字に内在する時間が、自らの時間より短時間の場合は複合しようとし、自らの時間より長時間の場合は複合しないか、複合しにくい。

　時間性の長短については、その漢字、　特に甲骨文における準初期形態が示す抽象性、具象性、統合性、個別性等のクラス分けが検証される必要がある。したがって、漢字に内在する時間性の自己選択性は、一つの仮説である。

四　漢字に内在する意味

　一般に言語における語の認定、あるいは語の意味は、その重要さにもかかわらず、困難さが指摘されてきた。漢字一字を語と認定するかどうかはしばらく置くとしても、ここで漢字一字ずつに内在する意味をある程度、分析的に検討することは、特に甲骨文にさかのぼることによって、可能な面が開けてくる。甲骨文においては、設文解字と比定できるものについては、その解明が進んだが、殷代のみに出てくる固有名詞的なものについては、今後も解明に困難が伴うことと思われる。しかし、甲骨文を言語記号として、その記号の内容とその記号が示す時間とを点検することによって、現在通行する漢字との比定を超えたレベルで、文字に内在する文法的機能を分析する途が開かれるであろう。そのときもっとも有力な方法の一つが、時間性原理であると思われる。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　2003年３月２８日白馬にて

On immanent time in characters 2003. Translated by Google 2025

From Author;
This translation has ambiguous expression.
The original text is Japanese.
So sorry.

On immanent time in characters

2003

TANAKA Akio

　This paper attempts to examine the origin and function of Chinese characters, the characters used in Chinese, which have been classified as isolating languages in linguistic typology.

　The early forms of Chinese characters can be confirmed by the oracle bone inscriptions found at the Yin Ruins and elsewhere. However, in the first period of the oracle bone inscriptions, which are usually divided into five periods, the inscriptions already showed a preliminary completion, making it difficult to guess the original form of the Chinese characters themselves. The vocabulary and syntax of the combined oracle bone inscriptions also show a preliminary completion. In this case, preliminary completion means that they can be understood or inferred from modern Chinese. Therefore, the creation and function of Chinese characters described here is a secondary matter that occurred after the oracle bone inscriptions. A great deal of research has already been accumulated on the circumstances of the formation of the character shapes of individual oracle bone inscriptions, that is, character-based explanations. Here, we will proceed with our discussion by citing the achievements of these studies, mainly those made since the 1990s.

1. Generation of Kanji (Character)

　When one looks at the oracle bone inscription of the Chinese character "育" (iku), there is no doubt that this character indicates the situation of a woman giving birth. In this oracle bone inscription, the situation of childbirth is indicated by three elements. First, it is the posture of a woman with both arms crossed in front of her chest as she gives birth. The woman is leaning forward, her buttocks thrust out, and her knees gently bent. Secondly, the situation of the water breaking during childbirth is indicated by a dotted line-like symbol. Thirdly, a new born baby is shown with its head facing down in the centre or lower part of the water breaking. The three elements illustrated in this oracle bone inscription clearly make it clear that the character "育" indicates the situation of a woman giving birth and the situation immediately afterwards.

　When we look at the oracle bone inscription of the Chinese character "言", we can see that the character's shape had already been considerably simplified or transformed in one period, and various interpretations have been developed in the past, but here we present one recent interpretation that includes the results of Chinese archaeology. The shape of the Chinese character "言" can be seen as three parts: the upper part, the middle part, and the lower part. According to the results of Chinese archaeology, the upper part is said to be a bell tongue that was hung inside a bronze bell-like bell during the Shang period, which indicated the holding of a meeting, etc. The middle part of the Chinese character "言" represents the bell tongue itself. The lower part of the Chinese character "言" represents the outside of the bell. During the Shang period, when announcing the holding of a meeting, etc., a bronze bell-like bell was struck to notify the relevant parties, and when the meeting was to be held, the bell was placed upside down on the table. In other words, morphologically, the body of the bell was placed on the bottom and the bell tongue was placed on the top. This is said to have become the shape of the character "言" in the oracle bone inscription. According to this interpretation, the oracle bone inscription of "言" can be said to show the situation after the announcement of the meeting by the bell. Meetings are conducted by words. Therefore, the pictograph of an upside-down bell became the oracle bone inscription of "言".

　When one looks at the oracle bone inscription of the Chinese character "渡" (cross), one can see a bow-shaped pattern within two horizontal lines. Wang Guowei had long ago identified this oracle bone inscription with the Chinese character "常" (always). We now follow this view. The two lines above and below represent the two banks of a river, and the central bow represents a boat traveling between the two banks. According to this interpretation, "渡" or "常" (aiways) represents the constant ferry service that is repeated in the same space.

　The following can be inferred or derived from the oracle bone inscriptions of the three Chinese characters "iku," "gen," and "wataru."

　First, the oracle bone script, which is the original form of Chinese characters, can contain the passage of time. For example, in "育" (nurturing), it is from the start to the end of childbirth, in "言" (saying), it is from the announcement of a meeting to its holding, and in "渡" (crossing), it is the continuation of ferry work.

　Secondly, the oracle bone script, which is the original form of Chinese characters, can depict or suggest multiple aspects of various events that occur in the course of an inherent time process. That is, in "iku" (nurturing), the mother's body, the water breaking, and the new　born baby, while in "gen" (language), the upside-down bell suggests the ringing of a bell announcing the meeting that took place the previous hour, and the placing of the bell on a table or other surface when the meeting begins. In "wataru" (crossing), the presence of both banks and a ferry boat indicates the ferry work.

　Thirdly, oracle bone script, the original form of Chinese characters, can convey multiple pieces of information by incorporating multiple aspects of an event. "育" (nurturing) conveys information such as the mother giving birth, the status during birth, and the birth of a new born baby all at once with a single character. "言" (saying) conveys information such as the announcement of a meeting, the start of a meeting, and the contents of what was discussed at the meeting, while "渡" (crossing) conveys information such as the ferry operation, reaching the opposite shore, and the repetition of a task, in other words, constancy.

　Therefore, from the above-mentioned induction and inference regarding the generation of kanji, the following functions of kanji can be derived:

2. Functions of Kanji

First, the time aspects inherent in each Chinese character have a strong tendency to convey the most characteristic information about that aspect. In the case of the character "育" (nurturing), the situation at the time of birth is most characteristic in the mother's birthing movements, but after birth, the presence of the new born becomes characteristic. The diversity of grammatical functions of a single Chinese character stems from the range of time and the content of the characteristic events inherent in these oracle bone inscriptions.

In the case of "iku" (raise), the verb aspect of "umu" is emphasized during the birth phase, but after birth the noun aspect of "new born baby" is emphasized. In the case of "koto" (speech), the aspect of "announce" is emphasized before the meeting, but during and after the meeting the aspect of "what will be said" at the meeting will be emphasized. The "announce" aspect is largely verbal, while in the aspect of "what will be said" the noun function will take precedence.

　Secondly, when two or more kanji are combined, each kanji tries to relate to the other kanji by emphasizing one particular time aspect from its inherent time framework. Attempting to convey more than two aspects impairs the clarity of the communication. Looking at the character "育" (raise), in "育女" (raise a female child), it means "to give birth to a baby girl," while in "育嬰" it means "to raise a child who is already born." In "育女" (raise a female child), the character "育" is more related to the "conditions of birth from the mother's womb," while in "育嬰" it is more related to information about the "new born baby who has already been born."

　Third, while individual kanji often have multiple inherent temporal aspects, when they are combined, the alternative aspect selection of each individual kanji comes into play, allowing two or more kanji to form a more complex aspect by prioritizing each other's aspects, and thus maintaining the clarity of the information transmitted by the complex aspect. For example, in the combination of the two characters "常言," "常" selects the aspect of "constancy," and "言" selects the aspect of "to speak."

　So, what kind of function is at work within each kanji when it selects its own aspect? Also, what kind of function is presented to the outside of the kanji when prioritized aspects are combined?

3. Self-selection of Chinese character functions

　I will consider the situation in which two or more Chinese characters are combined to form a new, complex aspect in the case of "Kou-gen." However, in the combination "Gen-kou," it is generally considered that no new aspect is formed, but that two aspects that each Chinese character possesses are consecutively combined. Why does this difference occur? I believe that the inherent temporality of Chinese characters is also involved here.

　The time inherent in Chinese characters varies from relatively short periods to long periods. When two periods of time are consecutive, if the first character has a long time and the second character has a short time, the two characters are closely linked and tend to form a new composite aspect, but in the opposite case, that is, if the first character has a short time and the second character has a long time, the two characters are unlikely to form a new composite aspect, and each aspect tends to continue independently.

　In "Kou-gen", "Kou" implies "a long, permanent time", while "Gen" implies a short, transitory time. In this way, a long-term-intrinsic kanji followed by a short-term-intrinsic kanji form a new compound phase, but a short-term-intrinsic kanji followed by a long-term-intrinsic kanji does not easily form a compound phase. Therefore, "Kou-gen" is one word, and "Gen-kou" is one sentence made up of two words.

　In other words, Chinese, which is considered to be an isolated language in typology, does not have any morphological phenomena, and therefore its grammatical structure, and in particular the breaks between words and their grammatical function, have often been problematic. However, if it is possible to distinguish whether a new compound phase is formed or a succession of individual phases due to the temporality inherent in Chinese characters and the aspect selectivity when they are combined, then this will open up new prospects for vocabulary formation and syntactic structure in Chinese.

　The self-selectivity inherent in kanji means that if the time inherent in the following kanji is shorter than its own time, it will try to combine, but if it is longer, it will not combine or will have difficulty combining.

　Regarding the length of time, it is necessary to verify the classification of abstractness, concreteness, integration, individuality, etc., shown by the Chinese characters, especially the semi-early forms in the oracle bone script. Therefore, the self-selection of the temporality inherent in Chinese characters is one hypothesis.

4. The meaning inherent in the kanji

In general, the identification of words in language, or the meaning of words, has been pointed out as being difficult, despite its importance. Leaving aside for the moment whether or not a single Chinese character can be identified as a word, it is possible to analytically examine the meaning inherent in each Chinese character to a certain extent, especially by going back to the oracle bone script. In the oracle bone script, progress has been made in elucidating those that can be compared to Shuowenjiezi, but it is likely that there will be further difficulties in elucidating proper nouns that appear only in the Yin dynasty. However, by examining the oracle bone script as a linguistic symbol and the content of that symbol and the time that the symbol indicates, a way will be opened to analyse the grammatical function inherent in characters at a level that goes beyond the comparison with the Chinese characters currently in use. One of the most effective methods for doing so is thought to be the principle of time.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　March 28, 2003

at Hakuba, Nagano, Japan

On Time Property Inherent in Characters / Japanese Original Edition 2003 / English Translated Standard Edition 2005 / Postscript 2008-2014

On Time Property Inherent in Characters

TANAKA Akio

Here I will try to consider on the generation and the function of characters that have been used in Chinese which is classified to isolating language in linguistic typology.

Concerning the early forms of characters, we can verify them by the ancient inscriptions on bone and tortoiseshell that were discovered at /Yinxu/ and so forth. At the first stage that is usually classified to five on the inscriptions, they already displayed the inceptive completion, from where it is very difficult to speculate the beginning shapes of characters. On vocabulary and syntax, inscriptions displayed the almost same inceptive completion. Here what is inceptive completion is meant that comprehension or speculation is practicable by the usage of modern Chinese. Therefore the generation and the function of characters are subsidiary after the inscriptions. On the situation of forming the inscriptions namely explanation to decipher inscriptions, many researches are accumulated. Here, in these researches, I proceed with consideration claiming the works of after 1990 in main.

1 Generation of characters

When we see the inscription of character /yu/ that means bringing up in English, it is impossible to doubt that this inscription shows the situation of childbirth time by woman. In this inscription the situation of childbirth is shown by three stages. First there is a figure in which woman is going to give birth to a baby crossing both arms at the front of her chest. She takes a bent-forward posture, sticks her buttocks out and bend her knees gently. Second the situation of what the waters break is shown by the signs similar to dotted lines. Third at central or under part of the waters, a new born baby is shown in the shape of baby’s head inverted. Through three factors illustrated in the inscription, character /yu/ is clearly expressed the situation of childbirth time and the immediately after the birth time.

When we see the inscription of character /yan/ that means language or speak in English, the form of the inscription is simplified or transformed considerably at the first stage of classification on inscriptions. So the explanation to decipher inscriptions is developed variously. Here I will show one interpretation including the result of Chinese archeology in recent years. A form of character /yan/ is able to see the three parts that are upper, middle and under. According to the result of Chinese archeology, the upper part is regarded as the tongue’s point of a bronze bell used at meeting in /Yin/ period. The central part of character /yan/ is the body of a tongue. The under part of character /yan/ is regarded to be the outside of a bell. In /Yin/ period, at the time to let the meeting begin, the bronze-like bell was ringed loudly to let the people connected to know. When the meeting was opened, the bell was inferred to put up side down on a table. That is to say, the main body of a bell is inferred to be putted up side down and the tongue of a bell is inferred to be putted upward on the form of bell’s setting. This setting of a bell is shaped regarded to become the character’s form of inscription of on bone and tortoiseshell.   According to this interpretation of the inscription, /yan/ can be said to show the situation of post-notification of a meeting in /Yin/ period.

Therefore the figuration of the reversed bell was regarded to become the inscription of character /yan/.

   When we see the inscription of character /geng/ that means to cross in English, we comprehend that the inscription shows the two parallel lines in which a bow pattern is included. WANG Guowei†0 regarded that this inscription is as same as the character /heng/ that means permanent or lasting in English. Now I follow his interpretation. He wrote in his paper that two up-and-down lines are both banks of a river and inner bow shaped figure is a ship which goes and returns between the banks†1. According to this interpretation, /geng/ or /heng/ shows the operations of crossing a river, that operations are permanently repeated in an identical space†1.

From the inscriptions of three characters of /yu/, /yan/ and /geng/, now we can induce or infer the following.

First, Inscriptions which are original shapes of characters, in some cases, have a proceeding time in characters themselves. That is to say, as for character /yu/, that means the time of childbirth, from beginning to end. As for character /yan/, that means the time of meeting, from announcement to being open. As for character /heng/, that means the proceeding time of crossing the river by ferry.

Second, on the inscriptions, several aspects of the various phenomena which occur on the proceeding time in characters are sometimes shown by the images or implications. As for character /yu/, remarkable aspects’ figures are bending mother’s body, amniotic fluid and new born baby†2. As for character /yan/, the one remarkable is the bell which is set in the upside down condition, which means the announcement of meeting which was already opened a few minutes ago. The other remarkable is the same bell which is set on the table in the upside down condition, which means the meeting is now going†3. As for character /heng/, remarkable aspects are both banks and a ferry boat.

Third, on the inscriptions, several aspects, which are shown by the remarkable figures, transmit the messages. As for character /yu/, babybirth from mother’s body, the situation of birth time and new baby appeared in this world are transmitted simultaneously by the one character /yu/. As for character /yan/, transmitting is announcement of meeting, opening of meeting and contents of being discussed by the meeting. As for character /heng/, work of crossing the river, reach the opposite bank of the river and repetitions of these works, namely, constancy are transmitted for the information.

Therefore from the induction or inference on the generation of character’s meaning above mentioned, the following function of characters is led for us.

2 Function of characters

   First, the time-proceeding aspect being inhered in every character has the strong tendency toward the most distinctive information of the real world. As for character /yu/, while woman is giving birth to a baby, the most distinctive information is the figure of mother’s body bending, and after birth, the existence of a new baby becomes the most distinctive information†2. The various grammatical functions of one character are generated from the time proceeding and successive phenomena of distinctive aspects in the real world.

As for character /yu/, at the birth time, verbal aspect of giving birth is emphasized, but after birth nounal aspect of a new born baby oneself is emphasized. As for character /yan/, before the meeting verbal aspect of telling the opening is the most important thing, but while being opened or after the meeting the nounal aspect of speaking content of the meeting is the most valuable thing†3.

Second, when two or over two characters are connected, every character wants to emphasizes selecting one distinctive aspect inherent in oneself, and want to connect to the other character or characters. Because if two or over two aspects is transmitted, there will appear the non-clearness in the information. As for character /yu/, connection with character /sheng/ (which means grow in English), namely /sheng yu/, in this situation /yu/ means give birth to in English. Connection with /cai/ (which means a person of talent in English), namely /yu cai/, in this situation /yu/ means educate in English. That is to say, character /yu/ has two phases of meanings. One is concerned with the situation of child-birth of mother’s body. The other is concerned with the situation of a person that is already growing.

Third, every character has several aspects of inherent time inclination. When there is a connection of two characters, each character has the choosing operation from the several meanings in the character. Two or over two characters generate a new meaning complex by the operations of choosing the most precedent meaning in the each. This complex can maintain the new clearness of information on the connection of characters which have many branches of meanings in total.

For example, from above mentioned characters /yu/, /yan/ and /heng/, when two characters /heng/ and /yan/ are connected to one word /heng yan/, /heng/ chooses the meaning constant in English and /yan/ chooses the meaning utterance in English. New meaning complex is the expression by the stable person. This /heng yan/ appears in the Chinese classic Mengzi by the complex meaning.

Then, when every individual character does selectivity of aspects, what functions does work in the characters? On the other hand, when two or over two characters connect by the choosing the most precedent meaning respectively, what functions does work out of the characters?

3 Self selectivity of function on character

Now I examine the situation of what two or over two characters connect and generate the new aspect complex. For instance, I adopt above mentioned characters connection word /heng yan/.

In the first place, /yan heng/, which is a reverse disposition of /heng yan/, is examined. This characters disposition is not notified as the one word generally in the Chinese. This characters set is usually recognized as a sentence. The meaning is <The utterance is eternal.> in English. That is to say, this characters set does not generate new aspect complex and two aspects of every individual character form in a line. Why this divergence, namely generating word or sentence, occurs in the characters disposition?

Here I infer that< time property inherent in characters> is worked. Detailed inference is mentioned below.

On <time inherent in characters>, time has various longitudes, from short to long. As the case stands that two times in two characters touch in succession and the former character’ time is longer than the latter character’ time, these two characters connect tightly and generate a new aspect complex. But on the reverse situation, that is to say, the former character has shorter time than the latter character, these two characters have the difficulty to generate a new aspect complex, every individual character has a tendency to stand alone each other.

As for characters connection /heng yan/, character /heng/ has <an eternally long time> inherent, on the other hand, character /yan/ has <a temporary short time>. Like this connection of characters that the former is long time inherent and the latter is short time inherent, a new aspect complex is generated in principle.

Therefore characters /heng yan/ become one word and characters /yan heng/ become one sentence which is constituted from the two characters.

That is to say, on Chinese language that is classified to isolating language in linguistic typology, for there are no phenomena of declension, the main them of the grammatical functions is the break of words, namely characters, and the selection of parts of speech.

On the decision of grammatical functions, now I institute two conceptions for language. One is <time inherent in characters>. The other is <self selectivity of aspects on the combination of characters>.

<Time inherent in characters> is above mentioned. <Self selectivity of aspects> is also above mentioned. Say over again, when time inherent in the successive character is shorter than the former character’s, two characters are composed and become one word. But the latter is longer than the former; two characters are not composed and become one sentence.

As a result, there become two divergences. One is the generation of a new aspect complex. The other is succession of two individual aspects. The former become a word. The latter become a sentence.

This distinction leads a new view for the generation of lexis and the structure of syntax. Time inherent in characters is examined by the property of characters, especially by the inscriptions on bone and tortoiseshell in ancient China. Therefore <self selectivity of aspects on the combination of characters> is a hypothesis in the present stages.

4 Time principle on language

Generally, recognition of word or structure of meaning on word, which is estimated one of the most important themes on linguistics, is extremely difficult to examine for long time. For the examination of the theme, now I chose the inscriptions on ancient China. These inscriptions are the most effective materials for analyzing the structure of meaning on language. Then, one of the most effective means is to verify <Time inherent in characters> and <Self selectivity of aspects on the combination of characters>. Now I collectively call these two factors as <Time principle on language>.

Hakuba March 28, 2003
Written by Japanese
Original Edition

Tokyo January 3, 2005
Translated into English
Standard Edition

Sekinan Research Field of Language

[Postscript June 23, 2008]
†0<WANG Guowei>

†1<Period>