Outlier Semantic Components Posters + Giveaway

[OneEye]

Outlier is finally ready to release our first product—the Semantic Components Posters!

 

I'm giving away a free PDF copy of both posters to five Chinese-forums members. If you're interested, just post in this thread and tell me which version (simplified or traditional) you want. Priority will go to people who seem like they'll actually follow through and post a review, so it isn't necessarily first-come, first-served.   The only thing we ask for in return is that you post a review here on Chinese-forums, but of course if you have a blog or YouTube channel or something and want to review it there too, that would be great. 

 

(That's a somewhat earlier version, but the layout has only changed a bit)

 

These hi-res, A1-sized (594mm x 841mm, 23.39" x 33.11") posters cover 100 semantic components (50 per poster) and give explanations of their:

 

• form (what was it originally a "picture" of?)
• meaning when used as a component
• meaning when used by itself as a character in modern Chinese
• a Chinese name or description for each component so you can talk about the component in Chinese—something a lot of learning materials ignore
• tons of example characters (nearly 600 total!) using it as a semantic (meaning or form) component
• stroke order diagrams, variants, traditional and simplified, important notes, etc.

They're really cool, and I wish I had had access to good info like this when I first started learning characters.

 

One of the coolest things IMO is that it features beautiful handwriting by Harvey Dam (aka Chinese-forums' very own Hofmann) for both the main entries (brush and ink) and the stroke order diagrams (pencil). 

 

Here's a sample entry from the first Simplified poster, with each part labeled and explained below:

 

 

1     Stroke order. ROC standard for traditional, PRC standard for simplified.

2     Frame number. T for traditional, S for simplified. For easy cross-referencing.

3     Main entry. The semantic component itself.

4     Full form (if red) or abbreviated component form (if grey). Not all entries have or need this.

5     Pronunciation in Hànyǔ Pīnyīn. Traditional poster also has Zhùyīn Fúhào (Bopomofo).

6     Explanation of the component’s form.

7     Meaning when used as a component.

8     Meaning when used as a word or in a word.

9     Important notes about the component. Not all entries have or need this.

10   Simple, one-word (usually!) meaning for the component.

11    Chinese name or description of the component*, so you know what to call it in Chinese.

12    Example characters using it as a semantic (meaning or form) component.

13    Variants of the component, if they exist.

14    The component’s form in the “other” system (the traditional form on the simplified poster and vice-versa) if it exists.

[somethingfunny]

Yes please!  I'm assuming I can take this down to my local printer and get it printed out A1 size and hang it on my wall?  Thats the idea right?

 

Also, should I be saying 肉字旁 when talking about characters like 脸?  I mean, it makes sense, but I'd always thought it was 月字旁.

 

I'd be tempted to go for the traditional, but I think the simplified would probably be more useful for me.

[Tianjin42]

Yes please - simplified.

I backed the dictionary on kick starter but didn't go for the poster. Happy to take a look then post a review - it looks interesting. There are a few channels I can post this as well.

[陳德聰]

Oh my goodness. I would like to say I'd try to incorporate this into lessons with my students but the most likely thing is that I would nerd out over it with a couple of friends I know are similarly nerdy. I suspect that this thread will fill up fast so I want to request the traditional version if possible!

Question: the f, m, w part... What is the "m" short for?

[歐博思]

My students' classes are finished for the semester, so now I've plenty of time to be the student myself!! 

 

I wouldn't mind receiving a copy of your poster in traditional characters, towards which my study preference has gradually drifted over the past year due to what I feel is my greater likelihood of ending up in a traditional characters working environment in the not so distant future (Chinese communities in the USA, or in Taiwan).

[li3wei1]

A periodic table of the components!

 

I didn't back the kickstarter campaign, and have been critical of some of the hype, but I will probably buy the dictionary when Pleco offers it. So I'll understand if I don't make the shortlist. Simplified, please.

[HerrPetersen]

Will the posters be sent to backers automatically?

[Shelley]

Put me down for a simplified version please.

 

I would be happy to do a review on the forums and/or on my blog here on the forums. I have also recently started writing reviews for Living the Language's website/blog so I could review it there too.

 

I am a big fan of the Outlier method and would find this poster very useful.

[dtcamero]

Hi, I would love a traditional components poster please! thanks very much~

[Yang Chuanzhang]

Yes, please, could I get the simplified version? I backed the dictionary on kickstarter and can't wait for it to come out. I'd also be happy to review the poster on the forums.

Thanks!

[OneEye]

We'll announce the lucky 5 on Monday morning (Tokyo time).

 

To answer a few questions:

 

Yes please!  I'm assuming I can take this down to my local printer and get it printed out A1 size and hang it on my wall?  Thats the idea right?

 

Yes, you can print it out A1 size. 

 

Also, should I be saying 肉字旁 when talking about characters like 脸?  I mean, it makes sense, but I'd always thought it was 月字旁.

 

In China they say 月字旁 for both, but in Taiwan they say 肉字旁 or 月字旁, depending on which one it is.

 

Question: the f, m, w part... What is the "m" short for?

 

'f' is form, 'm' is meaning when used as a component in another character, 'w' is meaning when used as a word or in a word.

 

Will the posters be sent to backers automatically?

 

Yes, if you backed the poster during the Kickstarter campaign you'll get it automatically, of course.

[陳德聰]

So m = meaning when used as a component in another character and w = meaning when used as a word or in a word, yes? I read the legend I was just curious how the letters were chosen.

[OneEye]

So m = meaning when used as a component in another character and w = meaning when used as a word or in a word, yes?

 

Yes, that's it.

[OneEye]

Aw, heck. I'll send it to all of you. Everyone else missed their chance.  

 

I'll PM them to you. The simplified posters are ready, so I'll send them to those who want simplified within the next 24 hours or so. The traditional ones will take another week or two (I meant to mention that in the first post—sorry!), but I'll send them as soon as they're ready.

[Shelley]

Thank you, i will look forward to it.

 

[Tianjin42]

Thanks kindly.

[陳德聰]

[somethingfunny]

Awesome

[歐博思]

You have my upvote and a future review

[Yang Chuanzhang]

Thanks!