A study on Saito’s idiomological English-Japanese dictionary —The concept of “Jyukugo” and parts-of-speech settings—

This paper focuses on Saito’s idiomological English-Japanese dictionary, published by Saito Hidesaburo (1866-1929) in order to examine the reception and influence of Western languages, which are seen here in the process of establishing modern Japanese grammar. I compare the contents and grammatical items of modern bilingual dictionaries, especially the concept of “Jyukugo (熟語)” and the setting of English parts of speech, with those of Otsuki Fumihiko (1847-1928). Saito Hidesaburo’s “Jukugo=Idiomological” which appeared through Saito’s idiomological English-Japanese dictionary, was found to be close to “collocation information” the same as that of Otsuki Fumihiko. Around 1877 (Meiji 10), the movement seeking the systematization of Japanese grammar based on Western grammar books, especially English grammar books, was well under way. Based on respect for predecessors and avoiding grammatical terminology, unfamiliar viewpoints, and exhaustive debate, he tried to harmonize his work with “折衷文法 (eclectic grammar)” based on 19th-century traditional English grammar. Such systematization seems to have taken root in modern Japanese grammar and English education.