The History of the Study of the First Authentic English-Japanese Dictionary, with a Periodization

Abstract

『英和対訳袖珍辞書』 : A Pocket Dictionary of the English and Japanese Language (sic) is believed to be the first authentic English-Japanese dictionary in Japan. And it has been 145 years since the dictionary was compiled by Hori Tatsunosuke in 1862. This report is based on a reading by the writer at our Society's 414th regular monthly meeting on June 3 in 2006. Research has been carried out by the writer from 1993 to 2007.The writer divides the history into four periods. The first period is the Introductory Period which spans the Meiji and Taisho eras, when the existence of the dictionary was introduced by Doctor Otsuki and Professor Katsumata. The second period is that of Bibliographical Studies which begins with the Showa era and ends before the Second World War, when bibliographical studies were made by several scholars on the English language. The third period is that of Genealogical Studies which is after the Second World War to the year 1988, when genealogical studies of the dictionary, especially the degree of the influence of『和蘭字彙』 : A Dutch-Japanese Dictionary in 1855-58 into 『英和対訳袖珍辞書』 was metrically investigated by scholars on the Japanese language. The fourth period may be called that of Studies of Chinese Influence which is after 1988, when Ms. Wu Mei Hui (呉美慧) presented a treatise about the comparison of English and Chinese Dictionary by W. H. Medhurst and 『英和対訳袖珍辞書』.The writer has also added a list of the important books and treatises on the latter dictionary.