The 'Chinese' Theory: For and Against

[rikforto]

On my bike ride today, it occurred to me that I could probably illustrate the difference between the Classical and vernacular language with a translation of Sun Tzu's Art of War. I cannot speak to the details, but in broad strokes You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is what I expected. Before even looking at it, the fact of the translation should be enough to cast doubt on the idea they are the same language, but the differences are striking enough that no matter how intimidating Chinese characters seem, it should be obvious at a glance this the Classical and modern languages are different. I have hacked it up so that each sentence in the Classical appears with its written Mandarin counterpart; the Classical is on the top and the modern Chinese is on the bottom.

孙子曰：兵者，国之大事，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。
孙子说：战争是国家的大事，它关系着人民的生死和宗庙社稷的存亡，是不可不认真考察了解的。

故经之以五(事)，校之以计，而索其情：一曰道，二曰天，三曰地，四曰将，五曰法。
所以，要以如下五个根本方面的因素为基础，去对敌我双方的情况进行比较分析和评估，从而探索战争胜负的情势。这五个根本方面即：一是“道”，二是“天”，三是“地”,四是“将”，五是“法”。

道者，令民与上同意也，故可(以)与之死，可(以)与之生，而不(畏危)〔诡也〕。
所谓“道”，就是要使民众与君主同心同德，可与君主死生与共而无违疑之心。

天者，阴阳、寒暑、时制也。
所谓“天”，就是指昼夜、寒暑与四时节令的变化。

地者，远近、险易、广狭、死生也。
所谓“地”，就是指道路的远近、地势之险厄平易、开阔狭窄与高低向背等地理条件。

将者，智、信、仁、勇、严也。
所谓“将”，就是要求将帅要具备智谋、信实、仁爱、勇敢和严明等五种品格。

法者，曲制、官道、主用也。
所谓“法”，就是指军队的组织编制、将吏的职分管理与军需物资的掌管使用。

凡此五者，将莫不闻，知之者胜，不知者不胜。
凡属上述五个方面的事，身为将帅，都不能不过问。了解这些情况，就能打胜仗;不了解这些情况，就不能打胜仗。

They are remarkably different languages, so much so I've long wondered if comparison to the Romance languages might be underselling them. At any rate, the "Mandarin" You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. should look comparably different from the Classical text, and certainly not word-for-word the same