马礼逊:阿美士德使团不情愿的译员

作为使团主要译员,马礼逊在1816年英国阿美士德来华使团中扮演了极其重要的角色,肩负使团大部分的传译和文书翻译工作。不过,自始至终马礼逊并不情愿参加使团,且从不认为使团能取得什么成果。本文通过梳理马礼逊在参加使团前后所写的信件及其他相关文献,分析马礼逊不愿意参加使团的原因。

As the chief interpreter,Robert Morrison,undertaking most translation and interpreting tasks,played a key role in the Amherst Mission in 1816.However,from the outset,he was reluctant to join it and was very skeptical of its success.By analyzing the letters written by Morrison before and after joining the mission,as well as other archival material,the present paper examines the reasons why Morrison did not want to join the mission.