Chinese protestant bible versions and the Chinese language

George Kam Wah  Mak

doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190909796.013.14

Chinese protestant bible versions and the Chinese language

George Kam Wah Mak

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This essay discusses the relationship between Chinese Protestant Bible versions and the Chinese language. It first introduces the varieties of the Chinese language adopted and linguistic techniques used in these Bible versions produced in the late Qing and Republican era, so as to illustrate how Protestant Bible translators’ understanding of the Chinese language informed their choices. It then explains how Protestant Bible translation was relevant to the evolution of the Chinese language with the example of the Mandarin Bible, which contributed to the development of Mandarin from a lingua franca into the national language of China. This essay concludes with a discussion of the value of Protestant Bible versions as materials for the historical study of the Chinese language.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in China
Editors	K. K. Yeo
Place of Publication	United States of America
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Chapter	10
Pages	163-180
Number of pages	18
ISBN (Electronic)	9780190909826, 9780190909819
ISBN (Print)	9780190909796
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190909796.013.14
Publication status	Published - Mar 2021

User-Defined Keywords

Chinese dialects
Easy wenli
Mandarin
Modern chinese
National language
Protestant bible translators
Samuel isaac joseph schereschewsky
Union version
Wenyan

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10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190909796.013.14

Cite this

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title = "Chinese protestant bible versions and the Chinese language",

abstract = "This essay discusses the relationship between Chinese Protestant Bible versions and the Chinese language. It first introduces the varieties of the Chinese language adopted and linguistic techniques used in these Bible versions produced in the late Qing and Republican era, so as to illustrate how Protestant Bible translators{\textquoteright} understanding of the Chinese language informed their choices. It then explains how Protestant Bible translation was relevant to the evolution of the Chinese language with the example of the Mandarin Bible, which contributed to the development of Mandarin from a lingua franca into the national language of China. This essay concludes with a discussion of the value of Protestant Bible versions as materials for the historical study of the Chinese language.",

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AB - This essay discusses the relationship between Chinese Protestant Bible versions and the Chinese language. It first introduces the varieties of the Chinese language adopted and linguistic techniques used in these Bible versions produced in the late Qing and Republican era, so as to illustrate how Protestant Bible translators’ understanding of the Chinese language informed their choices. It then explains how Protestant Bible translation was relevant to the evolution of the Chinese language with the example of the Mandarin Bible, which contributed to the development of Mandarin from a lingua franca into the national language of China. This essay concludes with a discussion of the value of Protestant Bible versions as materials for the historical study of the Chinese language.

KW - Chinese dialects

KW - Easy wenli

KW - Mandarin

KW - Modern chinese

KW - National language

KW - Protestant bible translators

KW - Samuel isaac joseph schereschewsky

KW - Union version

KW - Wenyan

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M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:85112261716

SN - 9780190909796

SP - 163

EP - 180

BT - The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in China

A2 - Yeo, K. K.

PB - Oxford University Press

CY - United States of America

ER -

Chinese protestant bible versions and the Chinese language

Abstract

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