或多个汉字联合起来而创造的。比如,"休"是由表示"人"和"树"的汉字组合而成的,"囚"字则是由人字位于框中构成的。另一些汉字则用于表示方向和数字。通过看它们的字形,很容易区别它们的意思,比如汉字"上"和"下",其字形恰好相反。
虽然这几种类型的汉字能够表意,但是它们的缺点之一是其字形不能显示怎样发音。因此便出现了一种应对之策,即汉字的一部分表意,另一部分表音。今天使用的许多汉字便是用这种方式创造出来的。
20世纪50年代,中国政府推广简化汉字,现在它们已在中国大陆全面普及。
The story of Braille
Usually, when we talk about① reading, we think of② using our eyes to see letters written in ink③ on paper.However④, this is not always true.For example, blind people cannot see, but they can still read books.
The man who introduced blind people to reading⑤ was Louis Braille (1809-1852).Braille lost his eyesight⑥ at the age of⑦ three as a result of⑧ an injury.When he was ten, he went to a school for the blind⑨ in Paris.In those days, books for blind people used paper pressed⑩ against metal wire⑪ to form letters⑫.Since the metal wire was heavy⑬, each book weighed⑭ as much as⑮ 100 pounds.The whole system was not convenient⑯ for use.Indeed⑰, the school library only had fourteen such books in it.
In 1821, a soldier visited the school and showed the students a system for passing messages at night during times of battle⑱.His system used paper with small, raised dots that could be felt with the fingers⑲.Each letter of the alphabet was represented⑳ by a different pattern\s\up1(21(21) which consisted of\s\up1(22(22) twelve dots\s\up1(23(23).The soldiers would drag\s\up1(24(24) their fingers over the raised dots to read the message. ①talk about 说到;谈到 ②think of 想到;考虑
③ink/Iŋk/n.墨水,油墨
④however是副词,意为"然而",表示转折关系。
⑤who引导定语从句,修饰the man。introduce ...to/into把......引入,介绍......到。
⑥eyesight/'aIsaIt/n.视力
⑦at the age of 在......岁时
⑧as a result of 由于;因为;作为......的结果
⑨the blind盲人;the+adj.表示一类人,作主语时,谓语动词用复数。
⑩press/pres/vt.(被)压,挤,推,施加压力n.报刊;新闻界;出版社;press against 压在......上(压住,施压于)
⑪wire/'waIə(r)/n.金属丝;铁丝网
⑫动词不定式短语to form letters作目的状语。
⑬since用作连词,意为"因为",引导原因状语从句。
⑭weigh v.重达;有......重量
⑮as much as 多达;和......一样多
⑯convenient/kən'viːnIənt/adj.方便的
be convenient for sb.对某人来说方便
⑰indeed adv.事实上;的确
⑱battle/'bætl/n.&vi.战斗
⑲with small ...fingers作定语修饰paper;that引导定语从句,修饰先行词dots。 ⑳represent v.代表;表示
\s\up1(21(21)pattern/'pætn/n.图案,花纹;模式,方式
\s\up1(22(22)consist of 由......组成/构成,不用于进行时态和被动语态。
\s\up1(23(23)which引导定语从句,修饰先行词pattern。
\s\up1(24(24)drag/dræɡ/vt.(使劲地)拖;拉