叶玉森古文字考释方法浅论

叶玉森考释古文字的方法主要有以下六种:(一)注重字形分析,特别是据偏旁考察释字;(二)注重从辞例文意考察释字;(三)注重与其他古文字的比较释字;(四)注重从甲骨文的初形溯义,通过理解古人造字意图进行释字;(五)注重从甲骨文本身的谐声系统出发,利用古音学知识释字;(六)注重分析甲骨文中的合文、析文、倒书释字。叶玉森的甲骨文研究对后来人们系统提出古文字的考释方法,产生过一定的影响。

On Ye Yusen's Verifications of Ancient Chinese Characters

Ye Yusen used six methods in verification of ancient characters: 1) analysis of the shape of characters,especially interpreting meaning of characters by radicals;2) interpreting the meaning of characters through examples;3) interpreting through comparison with other characters;4) tracing the characters back to those curved on bones or tortoise shells and trying to interpret through the creators' intention;5)interpreting through the ancient pronunciation;and 6) interpreting via the combination,separation or inversion of the characters carved on bones or tortoise shells.Ye's study of the characters carved on bones or tortoise shells exercised some influence on the later systematic interpretation of ancient characters.