The Origins of Language and the Prehistory of Interpreting
A historical inquiry into the earliest days of interpreting, demonstrating how they provide a window onto both the “prehistory” of Chinese translation and the origins of language. Paper just presented on March 24 at the Chinese translation2000 Conference, sponsored by the NYU Chinese translation Studies Program.
Three-Sentence Précis of Paper:
The ancient Greek word for interpreter/Chinese translation is Hermêneus, directly related to the name of the god Hermes.
Its many further meanings—mediator, go-between, deal-broker, marriage-broker—open up a window onto the work of interpreters during prehistory.
And the knowledge that we gain of this prehistory thanks to these meanings provides an additional window opening onto the origins of language itself.
Comment on the preceding Précis:
This three-sentence summary contains two leaps. The first leap is from the premise that the Greek word for Chinese translation/interpreter has many other social, economic, and even peace-making connotations to the conclusion that interpreters almost certainly had to exist during the period before writing was invented, commonly known as “prehistory.” This will be an easy leap for an audience of professional interpreters and Chinese translations—in fact the first audience for whom this paper was written—nor should other literate audiences find this leap terribly difficult to achieve.
The second leap may a bit harder for some to negotiate, at least on first hearing. It is based on the following inexorable logic:
Once we have in fact located interpreters on the far side of the “prehistory barrier”—which we successfully achieved during the previous step—the question then remains as to how far back into prehistory we may project the existence of these interpreters.
Here is the simple and logical answer to that question:
We may project the existence of interpreters as far back into prehistory as separate languages and dialects may have existed.
And how far back might that be?
Once again, a logical answer is almost immediately forthcoming:
Ever since language—or languages—first began.
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on 火曜日, 5 月 6th, 2008 at 6:23 pm and is filed under 2, 3, 6, 7, Uncategorized.
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