Abstract
AbstractAlthough Chinese was not an official language in early colonial Hong Kong, translation between English and Chinese played a crucial role in daily life and politics. The first part of this article discusses the making of some important translated terms for government units and departments as well as foreign consulates in Hong Kong. In doing so, it accounts for different approaches in translation and lexical innovation, and their historical significance behind the making of newly translated terms. The second part of this article investigates salient features of the translation experiment initiated by Governor John Pope Hennessy (1834–1891; term of office: 1877–1882). The experiment aimed at strengthening the political legitimacy and colonial governability in Hong Kong. In return, the social standing of Chinese community leaders was duly recognised through their association with translation projects between English and Chinese, and the presentation of translated messages at important occasions hosted by Government House.
Highlights
The history of translation between English and Chinese in early colonial Hong Kong reveals some salient features of colonialism at work there
Translation was a major device in the exercise of the language of power during early colonial Hong Kong
The practice of translation, changed over time according to circumstantial factors linked to the political and socio-cultural context
Summary
The history of translation between English and Chinese in early colonial Hong Kong reveals some salient features of colonialism at work there. The meanings of “going home” and “calling a Westerner a foreign devil” are clearly totally different This story reveals a British magistrate’s limit of patience in early colonial Hong Kong. Studies on the history of translation in modern China—in particular, the pioneering works by James Hevia, Lydia Liu, Federico Masini, Michael Lackner, and others—have highlighted a number of salient features involved in the historical process of making modern Chinese lexicons.[3] Hevia’s perceptive study shows, for example, how translation could function as a weapon in Sino-British relations.[4] In early colonial Hong Kong, a product of. It provides an account of the shortlived translation experiment initiated by Hong Kong’s colonial authorities during John Pope Hennessy’s governorship
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