The Linguistic Possibilities of Futabatei Shimei' Early Translations

1999 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 09410114
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 国文学
• Research Institution: National Institute of Japanese Literature (1998-1999); Kochi University (1997)
• Principal Investigator: TANIKAWA Keiichi National Institute of Japanese Literature Literary Documents Department, Professor, 文献資料部, 教授 (10171836)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAITO Mareshi Nara Women's University, Faculty of Literature, Associate professor, 文学部, 助教授 (80235077) ; AOKI Toshihiro Kobe Shoin Women's University, Faculty of Literature, Professor, 文学部, 教授 (00159287) ; KIMURA Takashi Kyoto University, Faculty of Integrated Human Studies, Professor, 総合人間学部, 教授 (80065234) ; SUDA Chisato Kyoto University, Faculty of Integrated Human Studies, Associate Professor, 総合人間学部, 助教授 (60216471) ; YOKOTAMURAKAMI Takayuki (MURAKAMI Takayuki) Osaka University, Faculty of Language and Culture, Associate Professor, 言語文化学部, 助教授 (00200270)
• Project Period (FY): 1997 – 1999
• Keywords: Hutabatei Shimei / Translation / Turgenev / Aibiki / Comparative Literature / Japanese Modern Literature

Research Abstract

The goal of the present research was to compile a commentary on Futabatei Shimei's novella "Aibiki" ("Rendezvous," first published in "Kokumin no tomo," 1888.7/8). We went about this by first collating the first published text into paragraphs and pairing this with the original Turgenev text he is thought to have used. Translating the latter into modern Japanese, we proceeded to discuss and analyze the work over several workshop sessions.
The commentary itself was targeted at the level of individual words ; while providing phonetic glosses for kanji characters lacking them, we also aimed to illuminated Shimei's vocabulary by locating as many examples as possible from contemporary sources. We also attempted to pin down the differences between the original and his abridged version included in "Karakoi" ("Unrequited Love," 1896). For a number of words in Turgenev's original, we showed the definitions included in the Russian-Japanese dictionary "Rowa jii" (1887), which Shimei's is said to have helped compile.
This commentary is the first systematic attempt to analyze Shimei's translation in the light of the original and of contemporary Japanese literary sources. The outcome displays the process of both Japanese and Russo-European literature. We intend to continue our project to its end, and in the future to publish the results.