A BRIEF HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION IN JAPAN AND VIETNAM
Main Article Content
Abstract
This paper compares two distinct trajectories in the history of interpretation in Japan and Vietnam, shaped by the unique contexts and strategies of each nation. The historical development of interpretation in Japan is characterized by state-driven proactivity and institutional guidance. Systematic institutionalization commenced from the 7th to 9th centuries, was reinforced through the Nagasaki Interpreters during the Edo period, and underwent continuous adjustment to respond to external challenges, exemplified by the Phaeton incident of 1808. The zenith of social recognition came from the influential media event of the Apollo Program in 1969, which elevated interpretation to the status of a formal academic discipline. Conversely, the history of interpretation in Vietnam was profoundly influenced by the colonial context, with initial professionalization emerging as a product of the ruling administrative apparatus. After 1945, interpretation was reoriented to serve as an instrument for the national liberation struggle, reaching its pinnacle at the Geneva Conference of 1954 and the Paris Peace Accords of 1973. Thus, while interpretation in Japan served the strategy of national development and international adaptation, interpretation in Vietnam functioned as a sharp instrument for the struggle for independence and the assertion of national sovereignty.
Keywords
interpretation, history of interpretation, comparative history
Article Details
References
Clements, R. (2015). A cultural history of translation in early modern Japan. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139942201.
Dao, T. N. M. (2022). The history of translation and the current status of Translator – Interpreter training in Japan. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 38(1), 93-108. (Đào, T. N. M. (2022). Lịch sử dịch thuật và thực trạng đào tạo biên phiên dịch tại Nhật Bản. Tạp chí Nghiên cứu nước ngoài, 38(1), 93-108). https://doi.org/10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4812.
Doan, A. D. (2022). Literary translation and the construction of translated literature category in Vietnamese literature in the early 20th century. Social Sciences Information Review, 1, 51-60. (Đoàn, Á. D. (2022). Dịch văn học và sự kiến tạo hạng mục của văn học dịch trong văn học Việt Nam đầu thế kỷ XX. Tạp chí Thông tin Khoa học và Xã hội, 1, 51-60.) https://vjol.info.vn/index.php/ssir/article/view/81517.
Hiraoka, R. (2013). The beginnings of English language studies in Japan (1808–1862). History of Japanese Thought and Science, 12, 43-52. (平岡隆二. (2013).「日本における英語研究のはじまり(1808-1862)」『日本思想史・科学史』12号, 43-52.) https://www.pu-kumamoto.ac.jp/users_site/tosho/file/pdf/kbs/9/907.pdf.
Hiratsuka, Y. (2015). Oral History of Chinese-Japanese Interpreters: How Their Norms are Formed. Interpreting and Translation Studies, 15, 227-230. (平塚ゆかり. (2015).「日中通訳者の通訳規範意識とその形成要因」.『通訳翻訳研究』15: 227-230.) https://doi.org/10.50837/its.1516.
Hoang, N. (2015). The 1954 Geneva Conference on Indochina. People's Public Security Publishing. (Hoàng, N. (2015). Hội nghị Genève 1954 về Đông Dương. NXB Công an nhân dân.)
Jansen, M. B. (2002). The making of modern Japan. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvjf9vr7
Kade, O. (1968). Chance and regularity in translation. Verlag Enzyklopadie. (Kade, O. (1968). Zufall und Gesetzmäßigkeit in der Übersetzung. Verlag Enzyklopädie.)
Kawabata, C. (2013). Korea in the Eyes of Tsushima’s Chief Interpreter: A Study on Oda Ikugorou’s Life and Works. Journal of the Graduate School of East Asian Cultures, 1, 309-327. (川端千恵. (2013).「対馬藩朝鮮語通詞の朝鮮認識-大通詞小田幾五郎を中心に」『文化交渉: Journal of the Graduate School of East Asian Cultures: 東アジア文化研究科院生論集』1, 309-327). https://kansai-u.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/12652.
Kim, W. (2016). Korean language interpreters “Tsūji” in Japan-Korea relations from the early modern to the early modern-modern period. [Doctoral dissertation, Hitotsubashi University.] (Kim, Woobinn. (2016).「近世近代初期日朝関係における朝鮮語通訳官『通詞』」.博士論文.一橋大学.) https://hit-u.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2041347
Kimura, N. (2012). Interpreters of the late Edo and Meiji Restoration periods. Yoshikawa Kobunkan. (木村直樹. (2012).『〈通訳〉たちの幕末維新』. 吉川弘文館).
King, R., & Koh, E. (2014). Language modernization in the Chinese character cultural sphere. In J. Darquennes, J. C. Salmons, & W. Vandenbussche (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Language Standardization. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108559249.
Le, H. T. (2022). An overview of didactic approaches to translation and implications to translator and interpreter education in Vietnam. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 38(1), 1-14. (Lê, H. T. (2022). Tổng quan về các đường hướng sư phạm dịch thuật trên thế giới và một số gợi ý cho đào tạo biên phiên dịch ở Việt Nam. Tạp chí Nghiên cứu nước ngoài, 38(1), 1-14.) https://doi.org/10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4802.
Munday, J. (2001). Introducing translation studies: Theories and applications. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429352461.
Pham, Q. A. (2017). Hoan Nam envoy Nguyen initiated a poetic exchange with the Joseon envoy. Journal of Research and Development, 6, 67-82. (Phạm, Q. A. (2017). Hoan Nam sứ giả Nguyễn đề xướng họa cùng Sứ thần Triều Tiên. Tạp chí Nghiên cứu và Phát triển, 6, 67-82). https://vjol.info.vn/index.php/ncpt-hue/article/view/32664
Pöchhacker, F. (2004). Introducing interpreting studies. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429352461
Rabin, C. (1958). The linguistics of translation. In A. H. Smith (Ed.), Aspects of translation (pp. 123-145). Secker & Warburg.
Salevsky, H. (1993). The distinctive nature of interpreting studies. Target, 5(2), 149-167. https://doi.org/10.1075/target.5.2.03sal.
Seleskovitch, D. (1992). Interpreting for translation. Beijing Language and Culture University Press. (Seleskovitch, D. (1992). Interpréter pour traduire. Beijing Language and Culture University Press.) https://doi.org/10.4000/traduire.717.
Shibata, M. (1969). A historical study of the exchange of Sino-Japanese shared vocabulary. Bulletin of the Institute of Oriental and Occidental Studies, Kansai University, 2, A65-A79. (芝田稔. (1969).「日中同文訳語交流の史的研究」『関西大学東西学術研究所紀要』2: A65-A79.) https://ronbun.nijl.ac.jp/kokubun/00070486.
Thanh, S. (2023, January 17). The journey to the 1973 Paris Peace Accords. People's Army Newspaper. (Thanh Sơn. (2023, 17 tháng 1). Hành trình đến Hiệp định Paris 1973. Báo Quân đội Nhân dân.) https://www.qdnd.vn/tu-lieu-ho-so/ho-so/hanh-trinh-den-hiep-dinh-paris-1973-717204.
Torikai, K. (2007). Obituary to Mr. Nishiyama. Interpretation Studies, 7, 1-6. (鳥飼玖美子. (2007).「西山千さんを偲ぶ」『通訳研究』7号, 1-6). https://jaits.jpn.org/home/kaishi2007/pdf/02-02-torikai.pdf.
Torikai, K. (Ed.). (2013). Mastering translation and interpreting studies. Minerva Shobo. (鳥飼玖美子 (編). (2013).『よくわかる翻訳通訳学』.ミネルヴァ書房.)
Toury, G. (1995). Descriptive translation studies and beyond. John Benjamins Publishing Company. https://www.jbe-platform.com/docserver/fulltext/9789027274595.pdf.
Tran, X. H., & Nguyen, H. P. (2020). Quoc Ngu in the French’s educational reform in colonial Vietnam (1906 - 1930). The Review of Social Sciences of the central region, 10(3), 34-42. (Trần, X. H., & Nguyễn, H. P. (2020). Chữ Quốc ngữ trong cuộc cải cách giáo dục của Pháp tại Việt Nam thời thuộc địa (1906–1930). Tạp chí Khoa học Xã hội Miền Trung, 10(3), 34-42). https://vjol.info.vn/index.php/isscr/article/view/49587.
Vu, T. K. (2022, October 27). A brief history of interpreter training in Vietnam. Journal of Science and Development. (Vũ, T. K. (2022, 27 tháng 10). Vài nét lịch sử ngành đào tạo phiên dịch ở Việt Nam. Tạp chí Khoa học và Phát triển.) https://khoahocphattrien.vn/khoa-hoc/mot-thu-nghiem-moi-voi-dong-sach-phuong-phap-nghien-cuu/20220804025333645p1c160.htm