Alphabetically Based Computerized (ABC) Chinese Language Database

Category: Other Technologies

Reference Number: 00294

Description

This UNICODE database file is based on the Pinyin or United Nations authorized alphabetic system for Chinese. The database consists of 71,400 lexical items in single-sort alphabetical order with words arranged strictly by the pronunciation of the whole word rather than of the first syllable. Each of the lexical items has a headword, character, part of speech, and one or more English definitions. In addition, environment of usage is indicated where necessary, and homophones are distinguished by numbers indicating relative frequency.

On May 15, 2001, the University of Hawai’i, authorized the Wenlin Institute to be the exclusive licensing agent for the ABC Chinese Langauge Dictionary. Interested software developers and other potential licensees should contact Wenlin at the address below for licensing information.

Applications

• Developers of Chinese language products and applications that use the Pinyin input method for Chinese text and data
• Machine-assisted Chinese-English-Chinese translation product developers

Main Advantages

ABC's unique handling of the homophone problem removes one of the biggest obstacles to the efficient handling of the Chinese language on computers, by reducing the need to call up all the homophones of a particular transcription and selecting the desired item from the list displayed.

Inventor(s)

John DeFrancis
Center for Chinese Studies

Contact Information

For more information, contact Tom Bishop at wenlin@wenlin.com