Omonims. How to recognise, what is “rouz” (it may be rows, rose, rhos, …).
Compactness. 施氏食狮史 is much shorter then “The Story of Mr. Shi Eating Lions” and much easier to understand then Shī-shì shí shī shǐ (again omonims).
Try to think, why we write 1, 2, 3, … but (usually) not one, two, three. We learn a lot of characters, such as #$%@<>..., road signs, product signs, math signs, emoji, …
The same way we recognize those words by ear: through context.
Comparing English and Chinese is difficult because of the different ways the two languages use the melody of speech. I note that you have included the tonal markers on all your “shi”s, which make those words distinct (and, to somebody who has learned to read the language that way, easy to read). Moreover, that representation makes the playfulness of the title obvious, which adds value.
There are two problems with phonetic writing.
Omonims. How to recognise, what is “rouz” (it may be rows, rose, rhos, …).
Compactness. 施氏食狮史 is much shorter then “The Story of Mr. Shi Eating Lions” and much easier to understand then Shī-shì shí shī shǐ (again omonims).
Try to think, why we write 1, 2, 3, … but (usually) not one, two, three. We learn a lot of characters, such as #$%@<>..., road signs, product signs, math signs, emoji, …
Chinese is hard to learn, but easier to read.
The same way we recognize those words by ear: through context.
Comparing English and Chinese is difficult because of the different ways the two languages use the melody of speech. I note that you have included the tonal markers on all your “shi”s, which make those words distinct (and, to somebody who has learned to read the language that way, easy to read). Moreover, that representation makes the playfulness of the title obvious, which adds value.