Way to go!

That's something..

o.O

JimmySeal Wrote:Photo taken in Xi'an

Proves my point. Japanese shop signs will occasionally include hentaigana, too.

Serge Wrote:

JimmySeal Wrote:Photo taken in Xi'an

Proves my point. Japanese shop signs will occasionally include hentaigana, too.

Well the character isn't in widespread use because it's too complicated, is not included in Chinese character sets, and is the name of an obscure type of noodle. But it is in use. How exactly do you define "artificially constructed kanji?" All kanji were created by humans at some point.

"artificially constructed kanji" = more like a product logo rather than part of the language

You could kick off a whole debate on what language is right here.

Why does Jimmy saying the photo was taken in Xi'an prove the point? Is it something about Xi'an?

wrightak Wrote:You could kick off a whole debate on what language is right here.

Why does Jimmy saying the photo was taken in Xi'an prove the point? Is it something about Xi'an?

Hm-m.. No one seems to mind a debate on gobi so why not have one on the language?

It is not the location but what the photos actually show that proves the point. This character functions more like a brand logo than like a useful part of the language system that every learner/user of the language should be familiar with. Learning to recognise this character certainly enriches one's understanding of the Chinese/Xi'an culture (in the same way as learning to recognise the Coca-cola logo contributes to one's understanding of the 'Western' culture). But it is superfluous as part of the language in the narrow sense - even this obsure type of noodle can be described in writing by a more common character (just like one can spell 'Coca-cola' without bothering about the colour and the shape of the letters).

So shall we now leave the poor 'biang' in peace and have a debate on Culture?

No one seems to be interested in setting up an irc channel.. Perhaps I should write about it to the feedback section.. =/

I don't think there are enough RTKers to merit having an IRC channel, and not enough people here who would be interested in using IRC. The room would be empty almost all of the time.

Anyone can set up an IRC channel, and you are welcome to do so if you choose.

It seems that the few kanjis have ceased their wild killing sprees, just as we have stopped talking about them...

I approve of an IRC channel. If someone (not me, of course: you provide the initiative, I'll follow) makes one, I'll gladly join it and lurk most hours of the day. It's my impression of the forums that most of the users here use Firefox, which supports IRC through the Chatzilla plug-in, and I'm sure Opera has a similar widget. Ergo, most of the members here should have a capable IRC client at their fingertips, unless, of course, my assumption about the people here largely using Firefox is wrong.