An Overview of Reversed Words in Chinese and Arabic: A Comparative Study

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Chinese Language Department Faculty of Al-Alsun, Sohag University

Abstract

Reversed words (倒顺词) in the Chinese language are a linguistic phenomenon in which the order of syllables within a word or phrase is changed to create a new word or phrase with a different meaning. This phenomenon is common in Chinese and has various linguistic and cultural implications. A similar phenomenon exists in Arabic, known as "جناس القلب" (anagram or reversed words). These words occur when the order of letters, either completely or partially, is altered in a specific word to form a new one, which may have a different meaning or simply represent a different arrangement of the letters. However, this phenomenon is not as prevalent or widely used in Arabic as in Chinese.
This research examines the phenomenon of reversed words in Chinese and its counterpart in Arabic, known as "جناس القلب" or reversed words, in terms of definition, examples, and explanations, as well as the usage contexts and linguistic significance and cultural backgrounds. Through comparing the two languages, the researcher aims to highlight the beauty of each language and deepen the understanding and appreciation of this phenomenon in both languages, thereby enhancing cultural and linguistic appreciation among speakers of these languages.

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics