Chinese protestant bible versions and the Chinese language

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

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 languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Oxford Handbook of the Bible in China
EditorsK. K. Yeo
Place of PublicationUnited States of America
PublisherOxford University Press
Chapter10
Pages163-180
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)9780190909826, 9780190909819
ISBN (Print)9780190909796
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Arts and Humanities(all)

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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