Note 188 — Chapter V · CITIES AND PEOPLES (B) PEOPLES, RACES, TONGUES

The case of voice-differentiations of the same word in Chinese is not analogous. It arose only out of scholars’ work in the later phases of the Chinese Civilization as understood in this work. And it is a mechanical expedient and not a structural character—i.e., it lacks the polarity mentioned in the text. Voice-management distinguishes, not “great” from “small,” but “pig” from “God,” “bamboo” from “to dwell.” English students will find a clear and understandable account of this and other Chinese differential devices in Karlgren’s little book: Sound and Symbol in Chinese (English translation, 1923).—Tr.