Calista wrote:By searching the key word “Chinese etymology”, Richard Sears’ website always ranks number 1. Recently, many newspapers in China reported his work.
What is the difference between his work and Gong’s system?
Richard Sears’ work is not etymology. Please read Dr. Victor Mair’s article at
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2910 He wrote, “…The only major problem I myself have with the site is its title, "Chinese Etymology," I don't consider what Sears does to be "etymology" per se. Written symbols (characters, letters, graphs, etc.) do not have etymologies. Rather, they undergo evolution and development. Thus, Sears' work has to do with Chinese character structure, analysis, and evolution, not etymology. True Chinese etymology has to take into account the development of sounds and meanings through time (roots, derivatives, cognates, etc.).”
Dr. Victor Mair is a Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Pennsylvania.
His personal website is
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/ealc/faculty/mair.htm