Die MEBIWEGAL-Methode

Friedrich Gilberts mnemotechnischer Ansatz zur Vermittlung der chinesischen Schrift

Abstract

The above article deals with Friedrich Gilbert´s didactical writings on how to learn the Chinese script with the help of a method based on mnemonic principles. The underlying idea of this method (Gilbert calls it the “Mebiwegal Method”) is, that Chinese characters are easy to learn if you tag them with mnemonic labels and form verbal picture systems (“Bildsysteme”) for their graphemic components. Based on his method Gilbert published a Chinese Learners Dictionary which is in turn described and analysed. Finally the advantages and disadvantages of Gilberts method are discussed.