Chinese Character Teaching and Learning with Marginalized Radicals and Non-radical Components in a Character

Abstract

Naming or indexing of a radical in a dictionary will foreground dominant meanings of a radical and, at the same time, marginalize the other meanings of a radical as well as the meanings of non-radical components in a character. More efforts should be made to go beyond the dominant meaning(s) of a radical to have a better knowledge of the marginalized meanings of a radical and to identify the meanings of non-radical components in a character. With the assistance of Oracle/Bone Script, Bronze Script, and Seal script, and reinstatement of the significance of the marginalized meaning(s) of radicals or non-radical components, the Chinese character teaching and learning process will be considerably improved and it will become a fun-generating experience.