Re: Optimum number of symbols

Christophe Grandsire wrote:
> Because speech offers more clues for disambiguating than writing. During a
> communication, more than 50% of the message is actually transmitted non-
> verbally. Tone, prosody, facial features and body language account for a
> disambiguating context that writing cannot offer.
Not to mention that speech is interactive.  If you and I are speaking,
and I misinterpret something you say, chances are you'll catch on to my
confusion and clarify.  If you're writing to me, and I misinterpret
something, there's no way you can correct my confusion.

> After all, why didn't
> the Japanese throw away all the kanji while their kana are far enough to write
> everything they want to write?
To be honest, part of the reason is cultural - someone who doesn't know
many kanji would be considered ignorant.  Something written in kanji
looks more intelligent and/or sophisticated than writing it purely in
hiragana.

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