Ernest Tipson
Encyclopedia
Ernest Tipson was a Brethren missionary and linguist
who compiled a dictionary
of Cantonese.
Born into a large Brethren
family in Enfield
, England
, Tipson began his working life, at the age of 14, as an architect
's clerk and typist, but was called to missionary service in the early 1900s. His first posting was to Penang
and he sailed there from the UK in November 1908. In October 1909, he traveled to Canton
(now Guangzhou) in China where he spent almost two years mastering the Cantonese dialect. This was to be a vital tool in his missionary work and he went on to acquire the Hokkien dialect, and perhaps others too.
His linguistic prowess, and later his acknowledged status as a gifted Chinese scholar, was extraordinary in the light of his humble education at a Board School back in England
His Pocket Dictionary of the Amoy Vernacular is still referenced during the compilation of modern Chinese/English dictionaries. Ernest, true to his faith and calling, ensured that every word in the Bible
found its way into his dictionary. Another of his publications, a Complete Chinese Character Course, was mostly created in Changi Prison
during the World War II
.
On his return from Canton (March 1911), he remained in Penang for a while (where he married Agnes Millar) and was later based in Kuala Lumpur
. His missionary work involved preaching the Gospel, evangelism, and visiting lepers and prisoners. As with most missionaries, in those times, there was the ever-present danger of ill-health and death due to the heat and humidity of British Malaya
. In August 1914, his youngest child, Teddie, fell ill with gastro-enteritis and died. Teddie was just one. This event resonated tragically with the death of Ernest's beloved 15 year old brother some 20 years previously, who had also been called Teddie, and this was probably the point at which Ernest began to experience difficulties which would eventually lead to a breakdown. His mother's death and his intense, single-minded work habits were probably also contributory issues.
By 1917, Ernest became seriously ill, and suffered a nervous breakdown
, leaving immediately for Sydney, Australia, despite Agnes his wife being eight months' pregnant. He could not return home to England due to the conflict with Germany
; the First World War was consuming Europe
at that time. Finally, he arrived back in England in December 1918.
After a few years on furlough, he returned to Kuala Lumpur in 1920 and resumed his missionary work. It was in 1928 that he moved to Singapore
to take up the post of Secretary to the British & Foreign Bible Society for Malaya.
Nearing retirement, at the age of 58, Ernest was incarcerated in Changi Prison during the occupation of Singapore by the Japanese during much of the Second World War. To begin with, he occupied Cell 24, along with Shenton Thomas
, the then Governor of Singapore. His ministry in Changi was remarkable in terms of his strength of character and his support for fellow prisoners. Ernest's obituary in the publication, British Association of Malaysia, 1958, said: "There were some gifted preachers in the internment camp (Changi), but no one appealed to the men more than Ernest Tipson."
His survival, said his son, also Ernest, was probably due to his tremendous sense of humour and the good company and support of son-in-law David. Liberated in 1945, Ernest Senior traveled to India
to be reunited with his wife and son. "He was as thin as a stick!" remembered Ernest Junior. "We fell into each others arms."
After the war, Ernest Tipson resumed his work in Singapore briefly, but soon returned to England. He died in Cornwall
during a preaching visit to a local Gospel hall.
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
who compiled a dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
of Cantonese.
Born into a large Brethren
Brethren
Brethren is a name adopted by several Protestant Christian bodies which do not necessarily share historical roots. As classified in The Pilgrim Church by EH Broadbent, the earliest primitive churches to Paulician Brethren, to Bogomil Brethren, to Anabaptist and to Moravian Brethren were historical...
family in Enfield
Enfield Town
Enfield Town is the historic town centre of Enfield, formerly in the county of Middlesex and now in the London Borough of Enfield. It is north north-east of Charing Cross...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Tipson began his working life, at the age of 14, as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
's clerk and typist, but was called to missionary service in the early 1900s. His first posting was to Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
and he sailed there from the UK in November 1908. In October 1909, he traveled to Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
(now Guangzhou) in China where he spent almost two years mastering the Cantonese dialect. This was to be a vital tool in his missionary work and he went on to acquire the Hokkien dialect, and perhaps others too.
His linguistic prowess, and later his acknowledged status as a gifted Chinese scholar, was extraordinary in the light of his humble education at a Board School back in England
His Pocket Dictionary of the Amoy Vernacular is still referenced during the compilation of modern Chinese/English dictionaries. Ernest, true to his faith and calling, ensured that every word in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
found its way into his dictionary. Another of his publications, a Complete Chinese Character Course, was mostly created in Changi Prison
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
On his return from Canton (March 1911), he remained in Penang for a while (where he married Agnes Millar) and was later based in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. His missionary work involved preaching the Gospel, evangelism, and visiting lepers and prisoners. As with most missionaries, in those times, there was the ever-present danger of ill-health and death due to the heat and humidity of British Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
. In August 1914, his youngest child, Teddie, fell ill with gastro-enteritis and died. Teddie was just one. This event resonated tragically with the death of Ernest's beloved 15 year old brother some 20 years previously, who had also been called Teddie, and this was probably the point at which Ernest began to experience difficulties which would eventually lead to a breakdown. His mother's death and his intense, single-minded work habits were probably also contributory issues.
By 1917, Ernest became seriously ill, and suffered a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
, leaving immediately for Sydney, Australia, despite Agnes his wife being eight months' pregnant. He could not return home to England due to the conflict with Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; the First World War was consuming Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
at that time. Finally, he arrived back in England in December 1918.
After a few years on furlough, he returned to Kuala Lumpur in 1920 and resumed his missionary work. It was in 1928 that he moved to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
to take up the post of Secretary to the British & Foreign Bible Society for Malaya.
Nearing retirement, at the age of 58, Ernest was incarcerated in Changi Prison during the occupation of Singapore by the Japanese during much of the Second World War. To begin with, he occupied Cell 24, along with Shenton Thomas
Shenton Thomas
Sir Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas, GCMG, GCStJ was the last Governor of the Straits Settlements, 1934–1942 during which time World War II began. He died at age 82...
, the then Governor of Singapore. His ministry in Changi was remarkable in terms of his strength of character and his support for fellow prisoners. Ernest's obituary in the publication, British Association of Malaysia, 1958, said: "There were some gifted preachers in the internment camp (Changi), but no one appealed to the men more than Ernest Tipson."
His survival, said his son, also Ernest, was probably due to his tremendous sense of humour and the good company and support of son-in-law David. Liberated in 1945, Ernest Senior traveled to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to be reunited with his wife and son. "He was as thin as a stick!" remembered Ernest Junior. "We fell into each others arms."
After the war, Ernest Tipson resumed his work in Singapore briefly, but soon returned to England. He died in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
during a preaching visit to a local Gospel hall.
Publications
- A Pocket Dictionary of the Amoy Vernacular, Chinese-English. (1935)
- A Cantonese Syllabary-Index to Soothill’s Pocket Dictionary, incorporating all Cantonese colloquial characters and their meanings. (1951)
- Complete Chinese Character Course, etc. (1949)