The Writing on the Wall: How Asian Orthography Curbs Creativity (Encounters with Asia)

Students in Japan, China, and Korea are among the world's top performers on standardized math and science tests. The nations of East Asia are also leading manufacturers of consumer goods that incorporate scientific breakthroughs in telecommunications, optics, and transportation. Yet there is a startling phenomenon known throughout Asia as the "creativity problem." While East Asians are able to use science, they have not demonstrated the ability to invent radically new systems and paradigms that lead to new technologies. In fact, the legal and illegal transfer of technology from the West to the East is one of the most contentious international business issues. Yet Asians who study and work in the West and depend upon Western languages for their research are among the most creative and talented scientists, no less so than their Western counterparts. William C. Hannas contends that this paradox emerges from the nature of East Asian writing systems, which are character-based rather than alphabetic. Character-based orthographies, according to the author, lack the abstract features of alphabetic writing that model the thought processes necessary for scientific creativity. When first learning to read, children who are immersed in a character-based culture are at a huge disadvantage because such writing systems do not cultivate the ability for abstract thought. Despite the overwhelming body of evidence that points to the cognitive side-effects, the cultural importance of character-based writing makes the adoption of an alphabet unlikely in the near future. Further titles in the Encounters with Asia series can be found online at https://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/series/EWA.html Few issues in the relations between China and the West invoke as much passion as human rights. At stake, however, is much more than moral concerns and hurt national feelings. In Human Rights in Chinese Foreign Relations, Ming Wan examines China's relations with the United States, Western Europe, Japan, and the United Nations human rights institutions. Students in Japan, China, and Korea are among the world's top performers on standardized math and science tests. The nations of East Asia are also leading manufacturers of consumer goods that incorporate scientific breakthroughs in telecommunications, optics, and transportation. Yet there is a startling phenomenon known throughout Asia as the "creativity problem." While East Asians are able to use science, they have not demonstrated the ability to invent radically new systems and paradigms that lead to new technologies. In fact, the legal and illegal transfer of technology from the West to the East is one of the most contentious international business issues. Yet Asians who study and work in the West and depend upon Western languages for their research are among the most creative and talented scientists, no less so than their Western counterparts.William C. Hannas contends that this paradox results from the East Asian writing systems, which are character-based rather than alphabetic. Character-based orthographies, according to the author, lack the abstract features of alphabetic writing that model the thought processes necessary for scientific creativity. When first learning to read, children who are immersed in a character-based culture are at a huge disadvantage because such writing systems do not cultivate the ability for abstract thought. Despite the overwhelming body of evidence that points to the cognitive side-effects, the cultural importance of character-based writing makes the adoption of an alphabet unlikely in the near future. Based on the latest scholarship in cognitive science and linguistics, and the author's intimate experience with East Asian languages, The Writing on the Wall provides a balanced and thoughtful account of one of the most important problems of modern Asia in the age of globalization.

Students in Japan, China, and Korea are among the world's top performers on standardized math and science tests. The nations of East Asia are also leading manufacturers of consumer goods that incorporate scientific breakthroughs in telecommunications, optics, and transportation. Yet there is a startling phenomenon known throughout Asia as the "creativity problem." While East Asians are able to use science, they have not demonstrated the ability to invent radically new systems and paradigms that lead to new technologies. In fact, the legal and illegal transfer of technology from the West to the East is one of the most contentious international business issues. Yet Asians who study and work in the West and depend upon Western languages for their research are among the most creative and talented scientists, no less so than their Western counterparts.

William C. Hannas contends that this paradox emerges from the nature of East Asian writing systems, which are character-based rather than alphabetic. Character-based orthographies, according to the author, lack the abstract features of alphabetic writing that model the thought processes necessary for scientific creativity. When first learning to read, children who are immersed in a character-based culture are at a huge disadvantage because such writing systems do not cultivate the ability for abstract thought. Despite the overwhelming body of evidence that points to the cognitive side-effects, the cultural importance of character-based writing makes the adoption of an alphabet unlikely in the near future.

Students In Japan, China, And Korea Are Among The World's Top Performers On Standardized Math And Science Tests. The Nations Of East Asia Are Also Leading Manufacturers Of Consumer Goods That Incorporate Scientific Breakthroughs In Telecommunications, Optics, And Transportation. Yet There Is A Startling Phenomenon Known Throughout Asia As The Creativity Problem. While East Asians Are Able To Use Science, They Have Not Demonstrated The Ability To Invent Radically New Systems And Paradigms That Lead To New Technologies. In Fact, The Legal And Illegal Transfer Of Technology From The West To The East Is One Of The Most Contentious International Business Issues. Yet Asians Who Study And Work In The West And Depend Upon Western Languages For Their Research Are Among The Most Creative And Talented Scientists, No Less So Than Their Western Counterparts.--book Jacket. 1. Japan's Creative Imitations 8 -- 2. Sources Of Chinese Innovation 34 -- 3. Korean Technology Transfer 61 -- 4. Asia's Creativity Problem 88 -- 5. The Anatomy Of Creativity 113 -- 6. Creativity And The Alphabet 139 -- 7. Asia's Orthographic Tradition 168 -- 8. The Concrete Nature Of Asian Writing 194 -- 9. The Impact Of Language On Creativity 219 -- 10. Chinese Characters And Creativity 244 -- 11. Creativity And East Asian Society 263. William C. Hannas. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [323]-336) And Index. Cover Title Copyright Contents Introduction 1. Japan's Creative Imitations 2. Sources of Chinese Innovation 3. Korean Technology Transfer 4. Asia's Creativity Problem 5. The Anatomy of Creativity 6. Creativity and the Alphabet 7. Asia's Orthographic Tradition 8. The Concrete Nature of Asian Writing 9. The Impact of Language on Creativity 10. Chinese Characters and Creativity 11. Creativity and East Asian Society 12. Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Acknowledgments Based on the latest scholarship in cognitive science and linguistics, and the author's intimate experience with East Asian languages, The Writing on the Wall provides a balanced and thoughtful account of one of the most important problems facing modern Asia in the age of globalization.