근대 일본의 영어 번역론 연구 ‒다카하시 고로(高橋五郎)의 『영문역해법』(英文譯解法)을 중심으로‒

Abstract

This article attempts to analyze Takahashi Gorō’s translation method with a special focus on his achievement as an linguist of English. The analysis of this study revealed that he sought to explore an effective translation method which could lay the foundations for English-Japanese translation in modern Japan. He criticized the traditional word for word translation method for its mistranslation which could undermine Japanese sentences and redefined the meaning of literal translation in his work “How to Properly Translate English into Japanese.” From his perspective, an ideal translation is the one that is faithful to the original texts and at the same time is natural in Japanese. His claim that such literal translation is the best strategy is rooted in his experiences of translating the Bible into Japanese and reflects his desire to establish the prototype of modern Japanese through translation. He can be evaluated as a pioneer in the field of translation who presented a model of literal translation on the basis of dictionary and grammar usage which emphasizes the faithfulness of the original text and the naturalness of the Japanese language. He embodied such important qualities of literal translation in the process of translating Catholic bibles Seihukuinsho I and II into Japanese.