A Study on The Chinese and English Instructor

Abstract

The Chinese and English Instructor, or Ying Ü Tsap Ts’ün, published in 1862, is an English textbook with the English words’ pronunciation annotated in the Cantonese dialect. This study mainly focuses on the compilation background, structure, content, and key features of the Chinese and English Instructor, exploring its value and significance for the development of English textbooks in contemporary China. T’ONG Ting-Kü, the compiler, was one of the earliest students to receive a Western education and a beneficiary of English language instruction. Well aware of the importance of mastering English, he compiled the Chinese and English Instructor with a clear purpose to provide some convenience for Canton people who have transactions, or are connected with foreigners. The structure of the textbook consists of four parts: prefaces, a treatise on articulation, a guide to pronunciation, and the body part, which is divided into six volumes, containing 58 major categories and 122 subcategories, with a total of 9,333 entries. The textbook manifests the following features: It focuses on teaching English pronunciation through qieyin, a Chinese phonetic notation, emphasizes the instruction of standard English and includes a wealth of English loanwords. It blends international and localized features, marking the transition from "Chinese-style English" textbooks to formal "Standard English" teaching materials. It holds pioneering significance in the history of modern English education in China.