Following is the proposed word processor with instruction on the top:
This word processor is technologically possible, but not completed yet. In early 2009, a programmer in China finished coding this design. It worked well. Typing in the typing zone, corresponding information would appear in the listing zone. I could also enter , manipulate and modify data in the database at the server side. Scripting language for the client side was JavaScript, and those for the server side were PHP and mySQL.
Software for entering Chinese characters to computer, such as the Google Pinyin Input Method, is designed essentially with the same principle. Spellings are entered in an area same to the typing zone, corresponding characters appear in another same to the listing zone, and the typist makes choice which stays in the typing zone. But the database for this type of word processor contains only a few thousands of individual characters and their PinYin spellings, but not any combinations of the characters, is thus thousands of times smaller than that of the Chinese IME. This type of romanization design involves the smallest database, is thus the simplest, easiest and most natural way of romanization.
However, after returning to the U.S., I found that the cursor movement in the typing zone was quite slow, so attempted to modify the code by myself, but had never expected that the whole program stopped working. I am an awfully poor programmer. Software programming work of this project is far from completion. Therefore, it is still just an idea. Improvement will continuously be made on it. Help in this aspect is sincerely solicited.
This word processor consists of two boxes, a typing zone which simply is a word processor for the PinYin writing, and a listing zone which accommodates a database consisting many small tables which list correspondences between Chinese characters and their designated PinYin spellings. A few of the correspondences are listed in the following table:
| Typing | Listing |
|---|---|
| wen2 | wen2闻. ven2:文纹. win2:蚊. vin2:雯. |
| ven2 | ven2:文纹. |
| win2 | win2:蚊. |
| vin2 | vin2:雯. |
In above table, the spelling on the top is of standard PinYin wen2 for the Chinese character 闻. Different alphabetic spellings represent different Chinese characters. In typing, the writer doesn't have to refer to the database from time to time to get the spellings. Instead, he only needs to type the standard pinYin spelling and further type the one representing the particular Chinese character. The basic idea is that when entering a spelling from the table's Typing column into the typing zone of the word processor, corresponding spelling(s) in the Listing column will appear in the listing zone.
Another feature of this word processor is for the reader. Assuming that all non-standard spelling, those in the above table for example, appear in the typing zone, as displayed in the following box.
Please move the cursor to any of the spellings in above zone. Beside it will appear a small rectangle containing the standard PinYin spelling wen2, so that the reader will see which standard spelling the variant one comes from. This requirement was also successfully fulfilled by the Chinese programmer with simple design of data structure and coding.
Purpose of this design is to facilitate the development and expansion of both language and writing of the Chinese. Eventually the listing zone of this word processor will become unnecessary, as speakers will be able to directly link the spellings to their meanings in their writing and reading activities. They will use word processors so direct as those for other alphabetic writings, such as this one.
| Copyright © 2010 by Zhang JuLi | Return to Home Page |