Abstract:

The exploration of the historical interplay between writing systems and languages within the sinographic sphere should not be limited to only a few countries such as Japan, Vietnam, and Korea that once adopted Chinese characters. Instead, it is essential to include the Chinese-character-based writing systems developed by ethnic groups in Southwest China and Southeast Asia, as well as historical texts from different eras and regions. Through specific examples, this article illustrates how these Chinese-character-based writing systems innovated upon the structural principles of Chinese characters. Moreover, by examining basic numerals, cyclical terms, and body-part nouns, it analyzes the historical details of mutual influence between Chinese and cross-border language families or groups, including the Kam-Tai, Austronesian, Miao-Yao, and Austroasiatic languages, in terms of both basic vocabulary and cultural terminology. It also points out that both the Chinese and the South China Sea language groups jointly shaped the linguistic landscape of early Chinese civilization.

Key words: sinographic sphere, Southwestern ethnic languages, Cross-border language groups, character innovation, lexical correspondence