Read chapter 2 “Tongues, Texts and Scripts”
Download the book pdf on https://u1lib.org/book/3588791/2b769d
How is the great cultural diversity of Asia reflected in the languages of the region? What are the major language groups?
How are the Korean and Japanese languages related to Chinese? What does this indicate about the historical role of China in the region?
What is the difference between language and dialect? What is the reason for the saying that a language is a dialect with its own army and navy?
How does migration affect the development of languages?
In what ways is the written word considered sacred in Asia?
What role did Buddhism play in the connection between early Indian and Chinese cultures?
How has writing affected communication in Asia?
What was the role of non-Asian scholars in the preservation and interpretation of ancient Chinese scripts and sources? What do you think is the relevance of the role of European scholars in this process?
