Multilingual translation and communication gap in the diplomatic relationship between Qing and Russia

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K01041
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03030:History of Asia and Africa-related
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: Yanagisawa Akira 早稲田大学, 文学学術院, 教授 (50220182)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 清 / ロシア / 外交 / 翻訳 / コミュニケーション・ギャップ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As a basic step, I created a database of diplomatic letters between Qing and Russia from the 17th to 19th centuries, and based on this examined the actual state of translation and communication gaps. As a result, the following findings are obtained: First, there was a clear difference in the roles of Latin and Mongolian as intermediary languages. Second, the Qing's Russian translations in the first half of the 18th century had problems such as lack of competence and deliberate alterations or omissions. Third, the Russian Language School (Neige Eluosi wenguan) established in 1708 in Beijing, contrary to popular belief, produced a certain number of translators who were active in the field of diplomacy. Fourth, the treaties concluded between the two countries in the 19th century have more textual differences between languages than has been previously believed, which some cases leaded to substantive diplomatic disputes.

Free Research Field

人文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，近世～近代における日本を含むアジア諸国の対外関係に普遍的に存在したと考えられる「翻訳」の問題を考える上で，ひいては広く異文化接触におけるコミュニケーション・ギャップの問題について考える上で，有用な材料を提供しうるものと信ずる。