ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

›› 1962, Vol. 6 ›› Issue (03): 49-60.

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THE SPECIAL IN ASPECTS IN MEMORIZING CHINESE CHARACTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

VAN YEN YIN, ZIAN CHI TSEN   

  • Published:1962-09-25 Online:1962-09-25

Abstract: Chinese characters are taken as some complex stimuli composed of three fundamental elements, namely, the phonetic sound, the meaning and their symbolic sings. For the beginners, learning Chinese characters is a complex process of differentiation and synthesis. It is likewise a composite process of perception, memorizing and thinking. This study is carried out with systematic observation and experiment with 160 pupils from three sections of the first year class from two elementary schools in Shanghai. We find that the beginners in memorizing Chinese characters has to go through the following three stages:1. The development of generalization of general relation between the different parts made up of the symbolic signs of the characters, and their relation with the phonetic sound and the meaning of the characters.2. The development of differentiation often being neglected in its details, between the different parts made up of symbolic signs of the characters, and their relation with the phonetic sound and the meaning of the characters.3. The development of the permanent and specific differentiation between the different parts made up of symbolic signs of characters, and their relation between the phonetic sound and the meaning of the characters.The experimental study indicates that there are three essential factors affecting the children in handling Chinese characters effeciently and economically, namely, the level of the physical and mental development of the child; the essential parts of the formation of Chinese characters, and the method of instruction. On the basis of the specific features of Chinese characters and the level of the intellectual development of the child the way of instruction plays an important role.

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