「通譯」作為統治的障礙—日治初期對臺灣總督府「通譯」的批判

Interpreters as Obstacle to the Rule: Criticism against Interpreters of Taiwan Government-General at the Beginning of Japanese Period

富田哲(Akira Tomita)

《淡江日本論叢》 23輯 (2011/06) Pp. 205-229

https://doi.org/10.29714/TKJJ.201106.0010

摘要

1899年5月，臺灣日日新報刊登了一篇社論，當中強烈批判在臺灣總督府等任職的「通譯」（tsūyaku）（係日文口譯者之意）。該社論批評指出，「通譯」們經常自認為沒有他們的力量就沒有甲午戰爭的勝利，亦無法順利進行臺灣的統治；同時他們不遵從上級長官的指示，便自己私自深入台灣當地社會，鼓動教唆臺灣人或利用權勢中飽私囊等。原本「通譯」被期待的該是扮演總督府與臺灣社會之間橋梁的角色，但在此卻被視為是阻害臺灣統治的因素。他們組織了一個名為「學友會」的團體，其成員包含多數會說北京官話的「清國通」、有不少是甲午戰爭時從軍擔任口譯、翻譯之後來臺灣的。因為臺灣在當時不久前仍是清國的「邊疆」，自認「專家」的他們積極參與統治政策相關的討論，也向總督府上層提出建言。但這樣的作為在兒玉源太郎．後藤新平體制之下竟成為被攻擊的對象。總督府的行政機構逐漸建立安定後，「通譯」們被納入正規體制，以往扮演抵抗總督府上層的勢力，其力量逐漸弱化。但另一方面，當時在清國軍事情勢緊張，具備語言、專業能力的他們，在「東亞」這個場域得到發揮所長的舞台。

關鍵字

「通譯」 ； 學友會 ； 兒玉．後藤體制 ； 「清國通」 ； 「東亞」

並列摘要

This paper focuses on those Japanese interpreters who mainly worked for Taiwan Government-General or TGG at the beginning of Japanese period. Taiwan Nichinichi Shinpō (Taiwan Daily News), the tongue of the government, harshly criticised the interpreters on May 1899 at its editorial. They claimed, as it wrote, Japan should not have been able to win Sino-Japanese war in 1894-95 and TGG could not keep going its rule without them. The editorial blamed them for deeply going into Taiwanese society without following orders of their superior. Those interpreters who were probably expected to bridge TGG and Taiwanese society were seen as obstacle to TGG's rule. The interpreters had formed an organization called Gakuyūkai in which most members were 'Qing specialists' with high proficiency of Mandarin and many of them had served as military interpreters during Sino-Japanese war before coming to Taiwan. In Taiwan where used to be the 'periphery' of Qing, they, as 'Qing specialists,' tried to commit the ruling policy for the colony like submitting their propositions to TGG. They, however, received severe attacks under Kodama-Gotō regime in return. They had been gradually absorbed into the governing system and their resisting power had been diminishing as the administrative structure being stabilized. On the other hand, however, they rushed into 'East Asia' during the conflicts in Qing because their ability was regarded as quite dispensable for Japanese military.

並列關鍵字

interpreters ； Gakuyūkai ； Kodama-Gotō regime ； 'Qing specialists' ； 'East Asia'