'Este diccionario es su uso para leer libros' : The 'Vocabolarium Sinense–Hispanicum' at the Biblioteca Universitaria di Genova / Daniele Quaggiotto

Published in Historiographia Linguistica - Volume 51, Issue 1-3, 2024 

Also available through Boston College Libraries

Abstract: 

This article provides some preliminary observations on the Vocabulario de Lengua Mandarina (1702) held at the Biblioteca Universitaria di Genova, which, to my knowledge, has not been studied before. It proposes hypotheses about its arrival in Genova, its likely authorship and examines the prologue, which provides helpful information about the intended use of the dictionary. An analysis of the contents of the Vocabulario yields insights into its romanization, the languages used in its translations, and the words it selects. The article includes a brief comparison with two other dictionaries compiled in the 17th century. Throughout the article, an attempt is made to place the Vocabulario in its historical context — that is, its production in Manila at the beginning of the 18th century — and to consider critically the claim that the Vocabulario’s use was for the reading of books.

"The 'Arte Sangley' in the archives of the University of Santo Tomás in Manila" / Daniele Quaggiotto

Published in Historiographia Linguistica - Volume 51, Issue 1-3, 2024 

Also available through Boston College Libraries

Abstract:

This article provides a brief description of a Hokkien grammar held in the Archives of the University of Santo Tomás in Manila which, as far as I am aware, has not been studied before. The article is only meant to provide a brief description of the Arte Sangley and some preliminary observations pending a more thorough study of the grammar. It contains some suggestions about its authorship and the date on which it was produced. It also compares, where appropriate and within the constraints of its limited scope, the Arte Sangley with the Arte de la lengua Chio Chu and Francisco Varo’s Arte de la lengua mandarina.