韓国開化期の日本語学習書 『日語捷径』(1895)について

Abstract

This paper examines the characteristics of the Japanese language education in the Korean Enlightenment Period with a focus on the Nichigo Shōkei(1895), one of the underexamined materials in the previous studies on the Japanese language education. Publications of the Japanese language manuals during the Enlightenment Period are generally known as business-oriented practical handbooks for self-study. The similar interest in studying the Japanese language can be seen from the Nichigo Shōkei (1895): e.g., the names of currency in Japan and Korea or trade in goods and cash. However, it is also evident from the Preface and a few examples in the manual that Kanazawa, the author, alludes Japanese as a language to ‘enlighten’ Joseon. In addition, his transcription of Korean as well as accounts of particles indicate that the author probably had a profound knowledge of the Korean language. Unfortunately, little is known about Kanazawa’s career in Korean language education. Even though Kanazawa stayed in Korea on and off over 10 years for his work, it is doubtable that a Japanese whose career was entirely in commerce could write a language manual. In this regard, it is possible to conjecture that a note ‘pyeonja-sik’ in the Preface might refer Kanazawa as an editor, rather than the author of this manual. Considering the fact that Kanazawa worked for a publisher as well as the unusual division of this book in two parts seem to increase the possibility of the role of Kanazawa in the production of this book as an editor.