Vertical Emanation and Horizontal Aggregation: A Linguistic-Philosophical Comparison of Arabic Word Patterns and Chinese Character Configuration

Qi Cheng

Abstract


This paper compares the word-formation systems of Arabic and Chinese from a linguistic-philosophical perspective. The derivational mechanism of the Arabic wazn (pattern) system embodies a vertical "emanation" metaphysics: an abstract triliteral root generates a series of concrete lexical items through internal vowel alternations and affixation—a process bearing a striking resemblance to the Neoplatonic cosmological scheme, where the One emanates into all things. In contrast, the configuration of Chinese characters—particularly associative compounds and phonetic-semantic compounds—embodies a horizontal "integration" philosophy: multiple basic pictographic components are juxtaposed spatially to yield new meanings, aligning closely with Chinese correlative thinking (represented by yin-yang and the five phases) and the notion of "harmony" (he). Arabic derivation exhibits a vertical, temporal hierarchy, as manifested in the rules governing roots, patterns, and word classes. Chinese character composition, by contrast, exhibits a horizontal, spatial simultaneity, wherein all components within a single character integrate into a holistic intuition. The typological difference between these two word-formation systems reflects distinct understandings of being and becoming across the two civilizations. The spatial metaphor of "vertical emanation/horizontal aggregation" proposed herein provides a new analytical framework for research in linguistic typology, cognitive semantics, and cross-cultural philosophy.


Keywords


Arabic Word Patterns; Chinese Character Configuration; Linguistic Philosophy; Emanationism; Spatial Aggregation

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18860/ijazarabi.v9i4.42300

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