英文摘要
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After the Japanese colonization of Taiwan in 1895, there was a need to minimize the social and political conflicts that arose due to the language barrier. To this end, a Multiple Role Interpreter System was implemented in 1895, which entailed an evaluation system for interpreters who also had other roles in society. This system was used to encourage police personnel to study the Taiwanese and Japanese languages. In 1899, translation and interpretation examinations were established, which included examination committees, examination grades, and systematic incentives such as stipends and promotions. Although the system underwent several revisions over the course of its implementation, it nonetheless managed to last until the end of Japanese rule. This shows how linguistic communication was indispensable during everyday activities in a colonized area. This study examines the language-learning periodicals and examination reference books published by the courts and police forces during the period of Japanese rule, compiling several thousand Taiwanese-Japanese interpretation examination questions from 1899 to 1936. The examination subjects, categories, dates, topics, scope, question types, and structures are analyzed and organized into a corpus. The goal is to analyze the exam questions and compare the characteristics of different interpretation exams, while also delineating the range of Japanese and Taiwanese used during conversations between government officials and civilians. Through this, it is possible to create a picture of the everyday language used at the time by police personnel and the people. Analysis of the interpreter examination questions during the period of Japanese rule reveals the scope and characteristics of the power dynamics at the time. This study investigates the government's power dynamics, as well as the roles played by interpreters and the primary focus of the examinations, and describes the issues and qualities indicated by the results of the interpreter examinations.
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