Expression type for mixed-use of Dongba characters can be divided into dominant type and parallel type. Causes for mixed-use includes three points: 1. similar or compatible patterns are the precondition for mixed-use; 2. certain relation exists among semantics of words represented by characters, or characters belong to the same classification in terms of meaning or have correlative meanings; 3. outcome is obtained during self-adjustment transitional stage of internal character of writing system. There are three solutions to solve the problem of similar characters: 1. re-distribution of characters’ functions; 2. integration of characters; 3. reconstruction of expression which is embodied in two aspects, including ideographical and phonetic expression transited from ideographical expression to additional phonetic complement, and transition from ideographical expression to pure phonetic expression.

摘要：東巴文形近字混用可以分爲優勢型混用和平行型混用。優勢型混用， 通常是指發生混用的字符之間，其中一個字符明顯佔據優勢，混用的頻率比較高， 常常代替另一字符表達其語言；平行型混用，則是指發生混用的兩個形近字之間已 基本互相通用，混用的頻率相當。混用的原因主要有三點：形體相近或相容；字符 本身所表示的語義之間存在某種聯繫，或是同屬一個義類，或是字符所表示的本義 之間相互关聯；文字系統內部字符自我調整過渡階段的自然產物。解決形近字混用 的途徑有三條：第一，字符功能重新分配。第二，字符發生融合。第三，表達方式 的重建。

1. Expression types for mixed-use
  1.1. Dominant type
  1.2. Parallel type
 2. Causes for mixed-use of characters
  2.1. Similar or compatible patterns
  2.2. Certain relation existing among semantics of words represented bycharacters
  2.3. Outcome obtained during self-adjustment transitional stage of internalcharacter of writing system
 3. Solution for Mixed-use
  3.1. Re-distribution of characters’ functions
  3.2. Integration of characters
  3.3. Reconstruction of expression
 4. Conclusion
 Abbreviation
 References

• Xiaoli BAI(International College, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China) | 白小麗
• Zhangying DENG(The Institute of Chinese Language & Documents, Southwest University,Chongqing, 400715, China) | 鄧章應