Draft:Shidinn

Shidinn (希丁, xī dīng, xdi8) is a constructed language invented by Chinese folk linguist Huáng Quèfēi (黄 Quebecfei). It is a unique conlang in that it relies on a one-to-one correspondence between Chinese characters and Shidinn words.

Writing System and Phonology
Shidinn utilizes a character set of 45 letters and 43 extensions (although it took 20 years to make ヲ ), each representing both a semantic component (radical) and a phonetic element. The phonetic series is based loosely on southwestern Mandarin, but prioritizes creating a more regular sound system over perfect alignment with Chinese pronunciation. This results in a theoretical pronunciation for every Shidinn character.

Current Status
Shidinn remains an incomplete language. While the phonology and vocabulary are established, grammar is largely missing. Huáng reportedly developed a grammar system, but most of his manuscripts were lost. Subsequent Shidinn texts by Huáng are essentially transliterations of Chinese using the Shidinn writing system.

Several Shidinn communities have emerged online, with some members (Shidinidos) attempting to adapt Huáng's phonology to newly created grammar systems. These efforts have resulted in variants like Common Shidinn, Standard Shidinn, and Shidio-Zhiyuanian. It's important to note that "Shidinn" often refers specifically to the established phonology and vocabulary, similar to the concept of absolute geometry in mathematics.

Further Research
Due to the lack of a finalized grammar and the obscurity of the language, further research is needed to fully understand Shidinn's capabilities and potential as a constructed language.

Notes and references
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