Between lexicography and intercultural mediation: linguistic and cultural challenges in developing the first Chinese–English dictionary

Abstract

ABSTRACTAlmost 200 years ago Scottish protestant missionary Robert Morrison published the first volume of A Chinese–English Dictionary, the first bilingual dictionary of Chinese and English ever published. While some bilingual vocabularies and dictionaries of the Chinese language in other European languages had been produced earlier, Morrison's achievement in compiling and publishing a complete bilingual dictionary of the Chinese language in English while residing in China was a significant milestone. This paper explores the way Morrison positioned himself as a bilingual lexicographer between two very different languages and their associated cultures; cultures that had very little interaction prior to his task of dictionary compilation. He undertook the task in a context in which the study of Chinese language, ownership of books in Chinese, and printing materials in Chinese were all prohibited. His dictionary entries, illustrative examples, and cultural explanations went beyond typical bilingual lexicography. His efforts were more so an experience in intercultural mediation; the provision of detailed cultural and contextual explanations of the Chinese language, made accessible to a Western readership wishing to learn Chinese and understand its culture. The impact of his efforts on future Chinese bilingual lexicographic work in China, and reflections on his achievements, are discussed.