Original Contributions of Bible Translating and Teaching to Modern Chinese Vernacular Movement

聖經翻譯與教學對中國白話文運動的獨特貢獻

曹堅(Jian Cao)

《漢語基督教學術論評》 14期 (2012/12) Pp. 59-87

https://doi.org/10.30106/SCSAIJBTP.201212.0003

摘要

本文在兩個方面立論。在聖經翻譯方面：近代西方新教傳教士就語言風格、國民文學和言文合一等問題進行的熱烈和持續的討論催化了白話文運動的發生；其次，他們實施持續漸進的校刊方法，是和合本聖經面世後很快得到廣泛接納並成為白話文範本的一個要因；再次，他們鼓勵閱讀白話聖經，宣導在全國範圍使用統一的語音系統，直接推動了白話文的規範和普及。在聖經教學方面：他們力求使其系統化和科學化，重視其文學性和趣味性，使用白話教學，注重聖經中的歷史並結合中國國情。這些都無疑促進了白話文運動的發展。本文之所以以舊約為考察範圍，則是針對學界對其影響的長期忽略，無輕慢新約之意；以《教務雜誌》為取證來源，一葉知秋，也非無視其他基督教文字事工。

關鍵字

和合本聖經 ； 白話文運動

並列摘要

In translating, teaching, and making the Old Testament available to read in vernacular Chinese, western Protestant missionaries granted the Bible an original place in the Vernacular Movement in modern China. Their controversy about linguistic styles of Bible translation, the propaganda for the use of vernacular, one speech for one nation, and vernacular literature, paved the way for the Vernacular Movement. The long process of making the Union Version is particularly important to the Vernacular Movement in achieving a pure universal Mandarin free of both pedantry in traditional Confucianist scholaristic style and localisms of particular dialects. The updating process of revising the text rendered the transition less sudden and less clumsy and finally made possible the speedy and wide acceptance of the Union Version. Also in line with the Vernacular Movement, the missionaries launched Bible education at Christian schools and applied modern educational methods to promote Bible learning. The missionaries not only highlighted the importance of teaching Mandarin, but also promoted the use of a national phonetic system. Without any denial of the significance of the New Testament, this paper has focused on the Old Testament because the influence of the Old Testament in modern China has long been neglected.

並列關鍵字

the Union Version ； the Vernacular Movement

參考文獻

A., E. J. Review of Short Stories for Chinese Students, edited by J. H. McNair. CR 50 (August 1919): 569-70

Ashmore, William. “Why We Should Study the Old Testament.” CR 23 (June 1892): 249-55

Bakeman, P. R. “Chekiang Summer Preachers' Institute.” CR 43 (October 1912): 581-83

Baldwin, C. C. “Union Standard Version of the Bible in Chinese.” In the column of “Correspondence.” CR 11 (November-December 1880): 465-74

Butcher, Dean. “The Bible in Its Missionary Aspect.” CR9 (July-August 1878): 295-99