Abstracts
Abstract
Subsequent to the western effort in researching the history of interpreting, Chinese scholars have also shown initial interest in the subject. Since China has always valued the recording of history, it seems that historical resources would offer the data required for such an investigation. Interestingly, some historical data relating to interpreting events seem to display a regular linguistic device: the use of dialogues to document exchanges between Chinese and foreign envoys. According to Li Nanqiu (2002), this observation suggests that interpreters’ words were put down in writing as part of historical records. Such a claim, however, is not entirely conclusive. Based on examples drawn from primary historical records, this article analyzes discourse features of historical records of interpreting events, and shows the possible role of interpreters as historians, or consultants, in the recording of history in the early diplomatic history of China.
Keywords/Mots-clés:
- interpreting history,
- interpreting in Ancient China,
- historical documentation in dialogues,
- early diplomatic exchanges in China,
- textual and linguistic analyses
Résumé
À la suite des efforts réalisés par les chercheurs occidentaux en histoire de l’interprétation, les chercheurs chinois commencent à s’intéresser à ce sujet. La Chine ayant toujours accordé une grande importance aux archives, les ressources historiques nécessaires à une telle recherche ne manquent pas. Il est intéressant d’observer que certaines données historiques liées à l’interprétation laissent apparaître une tendance linguistique régulière : la compilation de dialogues échangés entre envoyés chinois et étrangers.
D’après Li Nanqiu (2002), les interventions des interprètes ont été retranscrites pour faire partie des archives historiques. S’appuyant sur des exemples extraits d’archives primaires, cet article analyse les discours d’événements interprétés, et montre le rôle des interprètes en tant qu’historiens, ou consultants, dans la compilation d’archives historiques dès les débuts de l’histoire diplomatique en Chine.
Appendices
References
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