Rev. Dr. Robert Morrison
The first ambition of the young man who comes out from Home to begin a career in Hong Kong is "to learn the language". He engages a native tutor, buys the first and second book of Dyer Ball or that excellent book prepared by the Rev. Mr. H. R. Wells and settles down to some hard study. He is puzzled for the first month, appalled by the enormity of his task in the second month and tired of the whole business in the third. He comes to the conclusion that learning the language is a "silly business," dismisses his tutor and thenceforward spends his leisure hours playing tennis and going to tea dances.
The Government servant, however, must plod through the course laid down, memorise a few hundred phrases, and sit for his ticket.
Very few people have made a life study of the language. Fewer still have succeeded in thoroughly mastering it. There was one, however, who did that, and more. He was the Rev. Dr. Robert Morrison, missionary, official interpreter, and lexicographer. He was, in fact the Dr. Johnson of China.
692
My attention has been drawn to an advertisement in the columns of the S.C.M. Post reading: "For sale a dictionary of the Chinese language in three parts, by the Rev. Robert Morrison. Printed at the Honourable East India Company's Press, Macao, 1815. Vol. 1. Chinese and English arranged according to Radicals. Vol.2 Chinese and English arranged alphabetically. Vol. 3 English and Chinese. Well preserved condition. $500."
I have had an opportunity of looking over these volumes and in my opinion, despite the fact that they are over 100 years old, they are without a rival where English-Chinese and Chinese-English dictionaries are concerned.
In the preface, the author gives thanks to Providence for good health enabling him to undertake the work and to the Honourable East India Company for printing it free.
In an extensive examination of the language in written and spoken form, Dr. Morrison gives some sound advice to students. He recommends the study of characters as the speediest and most satisfactory way to acquire a knowledge of the language.
Tones and aspirates, says Dr. Morrison, are essential only in poetry. If the radicals are committed to memory, difficulty will be encountered in making oneself understood.
It would seem that, having compiled a dictionary in three large volumes, the printing of which took from 1815 to 1822 Dr. Morrison had completed a life work. That, however, is far from being the case. He also translated the Bible into Chinese and wrote many religious pamphlets.
When Lord Napier arrived at Macao in 1834, he appointed three Superintendents of British Trade in China. These superintendents selected Dr. Morrison to be Chinese Secretary and Interpreter.
But the great man's work was done. He died a few weeks later, universally respected and admired. He was succeeded by his son, Mr. J. R. Morrison.
Reference to father and son have often been confused.
Rev. Dr. Robert Morrison
The first ambition of the young man who comes out from Home to begin a career in Hong Kong is "to learn the language". He engages a native tutor, buys the first and second book of Dyer Ball or that excellent book prepared by the Rev. Mr. H. R. Wells and settles down to some hard study. He is puzzled for the first month, appalled by the enormity of his task in the second month and tired of the whole business in the third. He comes to the conclusion that learning the language is a "silly business," dismisses his tutor and thenceforward spends his leisure hours poaying tennis and going to tea dances.
The Government servant, however, must plod through the course laid down, memorise a few hundred pahrase, and sit for his ticket."
Very few people have made a life study of the language. Fewer still have succeeded in throughly mastering it. There was one, however, who did that, and more. He was the Rev. Dr. Robert Morrison, missionary, official interpreter, and lexicographer. He was, in fact the Dr. Johnson of China.
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692
My attention has been drawn to an advertisément in the columns of the S.C.M. Post reading: For sale a dictionary of the Chinese language in three parts, by the Rev. Robert Morrison. Printed at the Homourable East India Company's Press, Macao, 1815. Vol. 1. Chinese and English arranged according to Radicals. Vol.2 Chinese and English arranged alphabetically. Vol. 3 English and Chinese. Well preserved condition. $500."
I have had an apportunity of looking over these volumes and in my opinion, despite the fact that they are over 100 years old, they are without a rival where English-Chinese and Chinese- English dictionaries are concerned.
In the preface, the author gives thanks to Providence for good health enabling him to undertake the work and to the Homourable East India Company for printing it free.
In ah extensive examination of the language in written. and spoken form, Dr. Morrison gives some sound advice to students. He recommends the study of characters as the speediest and most satisfactory way to acquire a knowledge of the language.
Tones and aspirates, says Dr. Morrison, are essential only in poetry. If the radicals are committed to memory, difficulty will be encountered in making oneself understood.
no
It would, seem that, having compiled a dictionary in three large volumes, the printing of which took from 1815 to 1822 Dr. Morrison had completed a life work. That, however, is far from being the case. He also translated the Bible into Chinese and wrote many religious pamphlets.
When Lord Napier arrived at Macao in 1834, he appointed three Superintendents of British Trade in China. These superintendents selected Dr. Morrison to be Chinese Secretary and Interpreter.
But the great man's work was done. He died a few weeks later, universally respected and admired. He was succeeded by his son, Mr. J. R. Morrison.
Reference to father and son have often been confused.
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