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Chinese script evolved like a living organism, study finds

A recent study published in Digital Scholarship in the Humanities reveals that Chinese script has evolved akin to a living organism through a process of natural selection. Researchers Xie Yonghui and Wei Huang found that a limited set of high-frequency character components are repeatedly combined, with new elements invented when necessary. This evolutionary pressure, driven by the principle of economy and the desire for simpler writing, has led to a system where a few core components are dominant. AI

RANK_REASON The cluster reports on findings from a peer-reviewed academic journal. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.0]

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Chinese script evolved like a living organism, study finds

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COVERAGE [1]

  1. SCMP — Tech TIER_1 English(EN) · Chao Kong ·

    Chinese script evolved like a living organism driven by natural selection: study

    Modern simplified Chinese characters form a tightly connected network from just 514 basic components that evolved through a process similar to natural selection, according to researchers who say their findings could change how Chinese writing is taught. “Chinese characters evolve…