TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
言
ㄧㄢˊ · yán
noun/verb — speech; words; to say
字源 FORM — what the parts do
言形a mouth (口) below, the spoken breath rising above in straight strokes
A mouth (口) at the foot, the breath rising above in straight strokes — 說文: 直言曰言, words said out plain. The whole of it: 語言、言語; words sent up in public: 發言. As a radical it heads the speaking words — 說、話、認.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
嘴（口）一開，話像一條線，直直地說出去。
The mouth (口) opens; the words go out straight, like a drawn line.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)言— to speak; words常用
→語言— language常用
→發言— to speak up, make a statement
→言語— speech, words
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension