Zev J. Handel

Zev Handel, a professor of Chinese linguistics at the University of Washington, dives into the fascinating history of Chinese characters and their influence on Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese writing. He explains how these characters evolved from pictorial symbols to complex forms, connecting diverse cultures for over 2,500 years. Handel also discusses the unique adaptations of Chinese script in each language, the persistence of these characters amidst modern alternatives, and the future of text input technologies. This insightful conversation reveals the intricate relationship between language and culture in East Asia.