Pottery carved signs are the transition from the way of write notes to the character, it's the predecessor of the character, and they have the relation with the same strain.

陶器刻划符号与文字有着密切关系，是由原始记事方法向文字的过渡形态，是文字的前身，与文字有着渊源关系并一脉相承。

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Republican leaders have threatened to end talks with the White House and write their own balanced-budget plan, but signs of progress last week kept negotiators at the table.

CNN: Lott Optimistic About A Budget Agreement