The word-symbolization of Chinese characters’ forms is the transformation from the representation of objects to the sound and meaning of words. The process of word-symbolization is the only way to develop Chinese characters. In the theoretical framework of word-symbolization, this paper probes into the influence of the word-symbolization process on the formations of Chinese characters. By paying attention to the specific performances of Chinese characters’ forms by the word-symbolization, this paper analyzes and summarizes how the conversion modes, the transforming methods, and the evolutionary causes and laws concerned with the changes in the formation of Chinese characters during the word-symbolization process take place. The specific performances include the “form” level and the “form+consciousness” level, and the former is embodied as the lines and the word-symbolization while the latter is embodied in the formed radicals and the square-shaped structure. The conversion modes can be classified into two categories: the original conversion code and the modification conversion code. The transforming methods mainly include the direct transformation method, the modified transformation method, the adding components method and the replacing components method. Initially, the forms of Chinese characters represent only objects rather than words, and this “congenital defect” of deviating from the original due state should be the internal motivation to drive the word-symbolization’s occurrence. In addition, there are external factors such as politics, writing and people’s aesthetic psychology that promote the word-symbolization process. In essence, the word-symbolization of Chinese characters’ forms is the result of the combined effect of cognitive law and practical law. The process of word-symbolization makes the whole Chinese characters’ forms and structures achieve the self-improvement so as to return to the state of representing the sound and meaning of the word. And it is the word-symbolization that makes Chinese characters possible to be passed down from generation to generation, and to be in use until now.

1. 引言
 2. 詞符化在漢字形體中的具表現
 3. 詞符化中漢字形體的轉換方式
 4. 詞符化中漢字形體的轉途徑
 5. 詞符化中漢字形體的演變動因及規律
 6. 結語
 References
 Abstract

• 陳菡(南開大學) | Han CHEN