论晚清中西交往中的“语言问题”

任何形式的中外交往都必须以语言文字的沟通为前提,而中西方在语言文字上和文化心理上的巨大差异和隔阂必然导致中西交往间有意或无意的曲解和误会。晚清时期,民间的洋泾浜英语仅停留在肤浅而实用的层面上,在中西双方缺乏相互尊重、善意和理解的情况下,他们之间的交往必然存在障碍,曲解和误会甚至纠纷时有发生。国人在吃尽了苦头之后,终于开始开办自己的外语学校,并开始认真研习英语及其文化,以应外交和自强所需。对英语在近代中西交往中的作用进行解构,不只是语言本身的课题,它更涉及到思想意识、社会文化乃至外交政治层面。这对于我们理解那段历史、理解语言与交流之间的关系以及正确处理当今的中外交往具有重要的历史和现实意义。

On "Language Problem" in Late-Qing Sino-Western Intercourse

Sino-foreign intercourse of any form must be first based on language communication,and the substantial discrepancy and barrier in language,culture and mentality between Chinese and Western nations inevitably causes intentional or unintentional misunderstandings and misinterpretations in the intercourse.In the late Qing Dynasty,pidgin English functions merely as a superficial practical communication tool on one hand,and on the other hand there must be communication barriers and occurrence of misunderstandings,misinterpretations and even clashes in the intercourse as there is little mutual respect,goodwill and understanding between the two parties.In the circumstances,foreign languages schools are set up to meet the need for foreign affairs and self-strengthening.De-construction of the English language role in the late-Qing Sino-Western intercourse concerns not only the linguistic issue itself but ideological,socio-cultural and even diplomatic political issues,and is of great historical and realistic significance in our understanding the period of history,the correlation between languages and intercourse and proper manipulation of today's Sino-foreign intercourse.