??????? ??????? ???????. [Amerika kotoba. Oroshiya kotoba. Igirisu kotoba]. [Kawaraban Vocabulary Lists for Japanese and Foreign Languages, Including American, Russian and British].

[SURPRISING TRANSLATIONS - JAPANESE TO AMERICAN ENGLISH AND TWO OTHER LANGUAGES!].

Published by Late Edo, early Meiji, [Japan].

About this Item

Black and white wood block print with three illustrations on right of sheet, 22.4 x 30cm. Small brown mark at foot of print but otherwise very good. This kawaraban features comparative vocabulary lists showcasing Japanese alongside three foreign languages: American English, Russian, and British English. Accompanying each list is a small portrait of a "typical" man from each country, with the respective capital noted. For instance, an American soldier is depicted holding a gun, with Washington identified as the capital, while a Russian officer, holding a sword, is paired with St. Petersburg, transcribed as Petoruku in Japanese.The vocabulary lists are challenging to interpret, suggesting that some entries might be fabricated or inaccurately represented. However, the American section includes a few recognisable words, such as "silver" and "coin," transcribed phonetically into Japanese, offering a glimpse of early efforts at linguistic comparison and cross-cultural representation. Seller Inventory # 216798

Bibliographic Details

Title: ??????? ??????? ???????. [Amerika kotoba. ...

Publisher: Late Edo, early Meiji, [Japan].