Dictionarium malaico-latinum & latino-malaicum cum aliis quanplurimis quae pagina edocbit. OPera &studio Davidis Heax

Haex, David

Published by Typis & impensis Sac. Congr. de Propag. Fide, Romae [Rome], 1631

About this Item

First edition. [8] 72 75 [ie. 77; nos. 71-72 repeated; 45 misnumbered as 54] [3] p. The first Malay-Latin, Latin-Malay dictionary, an important tool for the missionaries in the Malay peninsula. The "Dictionarium Malaico-Latinum et Latino-Malaicum," published in 1631 by Father David Haex, is a landmark in linguistic history as the first Latin-Malaysian dictionary. This pivotal work was instrumental for missionaries working in the Malay peninsula, aiding in both communication and the spread of Christianity. During the 15th century, Chinese traders established themselves in Malacca, followed by the Portuguese who conquered the region in 1511. The Dutch began their conquest of the Malay Archipelago at the end of the 16th century, eventually ousting the Portuguese from Malacca in 1641. The 17th century saw the English asserting their influence in the region. Each of these groups-Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and English-had varying objectives from trade to religious propagation, necessitating effective communication with the indigenous Malay peoples. The Malay language, serving as the lingua franca of the Archipelago, became essential for these interactions, leading to the creation of word-lists and dictionaries. (Linehan 1949) In his dedication to Cardinal Francisco Barberini, Haex elaborates on his method of compilation, revealing that his work is a Latin adaptation of the Dutch vocabulary by Wiltens and Danckaerts (Vocabularium, ofte woort-boeck naer ordre vanden alphabet in 't Duytsch-Maleysch, ende Maleysch-Duytsch [.], 1623). Haex (also Haecx; 1595?-1656), a Dominican friar born in Antwerp, praises the Dutch for their linguistic endeavors, which, though initially serving their own purposes, facilitated the spread of Catholicism by providing a foundation that he converted into Latin. This dictionary was published by the Propaganda Fide, the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, established by Pope Gregory XV in 1622. The Congregation set up its own printing office in Rome in 1626, and this book is one of its earliest publications and the only one in the Malay language. The Propaganda Fide played a crucial role in coordinating missionary activities and disseminating religious texts worldwide, making Haex's work an essential tool for missionary efforts in the Malay peninsula. (Henkel 1971; Amaduzzi 1773) The dictionary is comprehensive, including Malay-Latin and Latin-Malay translations, and Portuguese-Malay expressions used in regions like Anboyna, Banda, Java, and the Moluccas. It also features idioms, phrases, and some grammatical observations, providing examples of prefix usage. (Linehan 1949) The book is scarce on the market, with the last copy recorded by RBH in 1985 (Rulon-Miller). Streit, Bibliotheca Missionum V, p. 222 Literature: Amaduzzi, G. C. (1773). Catalogus librorum qui ex typographio Sacrae Congreg de Propaganda Fide [.]. Rome, Ex eodem Typographio.; Henkel, W. (1971) The Polyglot Printing-office of the Congregation. The Press Apostolate as an Important Means for Communicating the Faith. In: Sacrae Congregationis de Propaganda Fide memoria rerum: 350 anni a servizio delle missioni 1622-1972, vol. I/1, 1622-1700. Rom-Freiburg-Wien: Herder, 335-350.; Linehan, W. (1949). The Earliest Word-lists and Dictionaries of the Malay Language. Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 22(1 (147)), 183-187. . Unopened, untrimmed copy. In later plain paper. Collection number inked on title page. Light foxing throughout. Overall in very good condition. Seller Inventory # 3300

Bibliographic Details

Title: Dictionarium malaico-latinum & ...

Publisher: Typis & impensis Sac. Congr. de Propag. Fide, Romae [Rome]

Publication Date: 1631

Edition: First edition.