In the dense forest of words

Author: Chen Yuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Renowned linguist and publishing elder Chen Yuan believed that language, music, sculpture, painting, and architecture are interconnected. The richness and depth of Chinese vocabulary are uniquely unparalleled. In the Dense Forest of Words and Return to the Dense Forest of Words were his accidental creations. Written in 1991 and 2002 respectively, these books originated from his column in the Reading magazine, where he wrote short, informal notes each issue, discussing historical and contemporary linguistic phenomena and his insights into the evolution of Chinese vocabulary. Over time, these notes became the readers' favorite feature in the magazine. Years later, Chen Yuan revisited the topic, his enthusiasm undiminished, focusing on popular expressions from daily life. The author traverses the dense forest of words, filling gaps and enriching the lexicon. He provides insightful and excellent explanations for the vocabulary, explores the semantic changes of words, interspersed with illustrative examples, and accompanies them with simple, rustic illustrations. The reading experience is warm and lively. Now, the two books have been compiled into one volume to delight the readers.