F. How to Translate

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F. How to Translate
2
Reading Assignments

• Optional
• Poythress and Grudem, Gender-Neutral Bible
  Controversy, especially chap. 4.
• Ryken, The Word of God in English

3
Cautions

• Language is complex and deep.
• We do not see everything.
• My own account is sketchy.

Quick solutions are suspect.
4
Why Look at Translations?

• For your own use.
• For advising others.
• English examples show principles.

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Why Look at Translations?

• For your own use.
• For advising others.
• We will look at English examples. You can extend
  the principles to other languages and cultures.

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1. Goals of Translation
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Possible Purposes of Translations

• A help for Greek and Hebrew
• Illustration of cultural relevance
• Cottonpatch NT
• Letters to Street Christians
• The Message
• Continuous reading
• Study of cross-references
• General

Many goals.
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Possible Audiences

• Audiences with lower skills
• Childrens Bibles
• Bible in Basic English
• Audiences with high skills (college graduate)
  NEB
• Using ecclesiastical tradition
• General

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Older Model of Translation
Original language
Speaker
Discourse
Target language
Another Speaker
Another Discourse

• Make a formal match. Formal equivalence.

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Newer Model of Translation
Original language
S
D
Audience
Target language
S'
D'
A'udience

• Make a match in audience uptake. Dynamic
  equivalence.

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2. Changing Language Form
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Ephesians 316
that according to the riches of his glory he may
grant you to be strengthened with power through
his Spirit in your inner being ... (ESV)
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An Example Eph. 316

• kata_ to\ ploutoj thj do/chj au)tou
• according-to the wealth of-the glory his
  (intrl.)
• according to the riches of his glory (KJV, ESV)
• out of his glorious riches (NIV)
• from his glorious, unlimited resources (NLT)

interlinear copies form, with ungrammatical
results.
formal method copies form, with minimal changes
natural-idiom method finds natural English idiom
paraphrastic method rephrases basic idea
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Comparison of Methods (1)
Interlinear
according-to the wealth of-the glory his

• exact copy
• ungrammatical
• unclear

• words correspond
• strange
• fairly clear

Improve- ments
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Comparison of Methods (2)
Natural idiom
out of his glorious riches

• some word relations
• ordinary English
• clear

• ideas only
• easy
• clear

Loss?
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Spectrum of Methods
copy grammar
restructure grammar
inter- linear
formal
natural idiom
para- phrase
easier English
problems?
17
Nuances
Formal
according to the riches of his glory
nuances lost
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Nuances in Paraphrase
Formal
according to the riches of his glory
nuances changed
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An Example 2 Sam. 519

• yd3yfb_at_ Mn"t_at_tihj (2 Sam. 519)
• ?-you-give-them into-hand-my (interlinear)
• Will you give them into my hand? (ESV)
• Will you hand them over to me? (NIV)

formal method copies form, with minimal changes
natural-idiom method finds natural English idiom
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Evaluation

• Paraphrase is easier, but less nuanced.
• Choose ease or accuracy, but not both.
• Is the most formal always most accurate?

Loss and gain.
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Spectrum of Methods (2)
copy grammar
restructure grammar
inter- linear
formal
natural idiom
para- phrase
problems here?
more obscure?
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3. Conveying Meaning
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Comparison with Idioms
formal equivalence
natural-idiom equivalence
Loss and gain.
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An Example Prov. 2316

• ytFwOylki hnfzlo(taw (Prov. 2316)
• and-will-exult kidneys-my (interlinear)
• Yea, my reins shall rejoice (KJV)
• My inmost being will exult (ESV etc.)
• kidneys are site of emotion

formal method copies form, with minimal changes
conservative method when form is unclear,
copies meaning
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Comparison of Methods (3)
Formal
my kidneys will exult

• words correspond
• less strange
• clear

• words correspond
• strange

Improve- ments

• obscure

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Comparison of Methods
formal equivalence
meaning equivalence
Message is important.
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Footnotes Add Information
My inmost being1 will exult (ESV)
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When to Change Form

• Change to make grammatical.
• Change to indicate meaning.
• But questionable whether one should change for
  ease.

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An Example 1 Peter 113

• a)nazwsa/menoi ta_j o)sfu/aj thj dianoi/aj
  u(mwn
• up-girding the loins of the mind-your (interl.)
• gird up the loins of your mind KJV
• formal equivalence
• preparing your minds for action1 ESV
• conservative equivalence

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An Example Eph. 118

• h( e0lpi\j thj klh/sewj au)tou (Eph. 118)
• the hope of-the calling his
• interlinear
• the hope of his calling KJV, NKJV, NASB
• formal equivalence
• the hope to which he has called you RSV, ESV,
  NIV, NRSV, NEB, GNB
• conservative equivalence

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Difficulties with Meaning
hope of his calling
hope to which he has called you
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Paraphrasing (radically restructuring)
conser- vative
the hope to which he has called you. (RSV)
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Spectrum of Methods (2)
copy grammar
restructure grammar
inter- linear
formal
natural idiom
para- phrase
conser- vative
reason- able middle
1-1 match, but can lose meaning
easy, but lose nuances
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Conservative Method

• Preserve form when possible.
• When meaning is obscure, change form.
• Change form conservatively.
• No radical paraphrasing.

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Terminology for Translation

• 20th century "dynamic equivalence" moved away
  from form.
• It used "formal equivalence" to label (somewhat
  misleadingly) all earlier translations.
• It covered a spectrum.
• Now called "functional equivalence," "idiomatic
  equivalence," "meaning-based translation."

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Problem with "dynamic"

• Focused on basic meaning.
• Underestimated nuances.
• Became a broad umbrella.

formal equivalence
dynamic equivalence
?
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Evaluation of Translation Methods

• Grammar and vocabulary systems differ.
• Often can copy both grammar and meaning.
• Cannot always copy both.
• When forced to choose form or meaning, copy
  meaning-content.
• Radical rewriting changes nuances.

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Evaluation of Methods

• Grammar and vocabulary systems differ among
  languages.
• Often a translation can copy both grammatical and
  referential structures.
• Because of differences, you cannot always copy
  both.
• When forced to choose form or meaning, copy
  meaning-content (reference) as primary.
• Radical rewriting changes nuances.

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Maxim for Translation

• Preserve maximal meaning.
• Preserve form when possible.
• When form interferes with comprehension,
  conservative change.
• For evangelism and for beginning readers,
  consider ease.

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Examples of Audience Understanding

• Peculiar in 1 Pet. 29
• Reactions to samples of GNB.
• A professional translator of aeronautics.
• A Bible study with delinquent children.

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4. The Question of Culture
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Cultural Transfer 1 Cor. 1620

• Greet one another with a holy kiss. (NASB, ESV,
  NIV)
• I should like you to shake hands all round as a
  sign of Christian love. (Phillips)
• Pass the greetings around with holy embraces!
  (Message)
• Greet each other in Christian love. (NLT)

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Cultural Transfer Heb. 1220

• They could not endure the order that was given,
  If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall
  be stoned. (ESV)
• They were afraid to move. (Message)
• They staggered back under Gods command ...
  (NLT)

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Cultural Heb 139

• Do not be led away by diverse and strange
  teachings (ESV).
• So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas
  (NLT).
• our culture attracted by newness
• Dont be lured away from him by the latest
  speculations about him (Message).
• our culture attracted by speculation

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Questions about Culture
dynamic equivalence
Watch out!
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Cultural Equivalence
Insights
-Dangers-

• Embed meaning in cultural context
• Apply gospel flexibly

• Wipe out unique history
• Underestimate complexity
• Anthropologist as new priest

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Cultural Equivalence
Insights
-Dangers-

• Embed meaning in cultural context
• Apply gospel flexibly in theology and church

• Wipe out unique history
• Underestimate complexity in equivalence
• Anthropologist as new priest

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A Spectrum of Practices
KJV/ESV
NASB
RSV
NIV
GNB
NEB
NRSV
Phillips
NLT
LB
Message
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Maxim for Translation
Make it sound like

• What a native speaker of English would say.
• about happenings long ago and in another culture.
• to people of that culture.
• preserving nuances (not just "main" meaning).

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Basis for the Maxim

• Clarity incarnation meets you NT in koine.
• Incarnation once in Palestine
• Cultural and redemptive-historical differences
• Respecting all aspects of the word of God

• Native speaker
• Events of another time
• to another culture
• "preserving nuances"

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5. Difficulties in Achieving Translation Goals
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Thanks for What We Have

• All main translations show main meanings.
• All show the gospel.
• People come to salvation through them.

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Difficulties with Formal- Equivalent Translation

• Words dont match, 1-1.
• Grammar doesnt match, 1-1.
• 1-1 grammar gives illusion of faithfulness, but
  subtle obstacles to understanding.
• Difficult to read in large amounts.
• Holiness confused with alienness.

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Difficulties with Restructuring

• Obscurities and ambiguities glossed over.
• Frustrates preachers reference to interpretive
  problems.
• Flattens metaphors.
• More prone to big errors.
• Hides allusions to other passages.
• Overconfidence in translators understanding of
  language.

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Difficulties with Cultural- Equivalent Translation

• Wipes out scandal of incarnation.
• Cant succeed. (Too many cultural references.)
• Arbitrary stopping point.
• Paternalistic in assuming people cant understand
  cultures.
• Overconfidence in judging what is significant.

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Difficulties with Cultural- Equivalent Translation

• Wipes out scandal of incarnation.
• Cant succeed. The Bible is too many culturally
  specific references.
• Arbitrary stopping point.
• Paternalistic in its assumption that ordinary
  people cant attain cross-cultural understanding.
• Overconfidence in judging what is significant.

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Choosing a Translation

• One central translation for memorization.
• Reject cultural modernization.
• Look for fullest meaning equivalence.
• Right now in USA, NIV.
• But NIV is too dynamic.
• ESV (2001) better.

An imper- fect world.
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Choosing a Translation

• Value of one central translation for
  memorization.
• Reject cultural modernization.
• Fullest meaning equivalence.
• Right now in USA, NIV.
• But NIV is too dynamic.
• ESV (2001) is suitable.

An imper- fect world.
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Wrapping Up Translation Evaluation

• Aim is preserving meaning.
• Restructuring helps evangelism.
• Restructuring produces problems for detailed
  study.
• Stay formal when possible.

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Wrapping Up Translation Evaluation

• Aim is preserving meaning.
• Radical dynamic equivalence may seem good on
  paper.
• Special needs for evangelism.
• The actual practice is so difficult and
  problematic that it throws doubt on the wisdom of
  moving strongly in this direction, in cases when
  reasonable results come from formal equivalence.
• NIV is too far over. RSV and ESV O.K.

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6. Gender-Neutral Translation
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Dangers from Attitude

• A delicate question.
• Our own sin affects attitude.
• Charity needed.

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Dangers from Attitude

• A delicate question, because of its interface
  with sexuality.
• Our own pain, confusion, and sin affect attitude,
  as do backgrounds of others.
• Charity needed.

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The Issue

• Since 1980 academia has turned toward
  gender-neutral English.

He who keeps the law is a wise son, but a
companion of gluttons shames his father.

• Should a translation follow?

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The Issue

• Since about 1980 American educated public has
  turned strongly toward gender-neutral English
  practice.

He who keeps the law is a wise son.

• Should a translation follow?

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Issues in Language in General

• Real sins toward women exist.
• Idea Eliminate generic he and other usages
  for equality.
• But English is awkward without it.
• There are secondary consequences.

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Man and Men
a1nqrwpoj
Greek
a)nh/r
gunh/
English
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James 39
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse people who have been made in
Gods likeness. (NIVI)
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Acts 2030 Men

• Even from your own number men will arise and
  distort the truth in order to draw away disciples
  after them. (NIV)

• Even from your own number some will arise and
  distort the truth in order to draw away disciples
  after them. (NIVI, TNIV)
• NRSV, NIVI, TNIV, NLT, CEV drop men.

Distorts meaning.
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Acts 121 Men

• Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the
  men who have been with us the whole time the Lord
  Jesus went in and out among us, (NIV).

• Therefore it is necessary to choose one of those
  who have been with us the whole time the Lord
  Jesus went in and out among us, ... (NIVI)
• NIVI, NLT drop men.

Distorts meaning.
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The Problem with Father
Prov. 312 (NIV) because the LORD disciplines
those he loves, as a father the son he delights
in.
Prov. 312 (NIVI) because the LORD disciplines
those he loves, as parents the children they
delight in.

• Hebrew has b)f (father) and Nb_at_' (son).

Distorts meaning.
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The Problem with Father
Prov. 312 (NIV) because the LORD disciplines
those he loves, as a father the son he delights
in.
Prov. 312 (NIVI) because the LORD disciplines
those he loves, as parents the children they
delight in.

• Hebrew has b)f (father) and Nb_at_' (son).
  The change is not lexically based, but shows
  prejudice against maleness.

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Generic He

• If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my
  Father will love him, and we will come to him and
  make our home with him (John 1423 ESV).

Generic he means he/him/his used to refer to
a representative person in a general statement
including men and women.
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Plurals Change Meaning

• If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my
  Father will love him, and we will come to him and
  make our home with him (John 1423 ESV).

individual receiver and home

• Those who love me will keep my word, and my
  Father will love them, and we will come to them
  and make our home with them (John 1423 NRSV).

corporate receiver and home
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Types of Translation

• anyone for original anyone
• person/people for original human being

• he to they (pluralize whole)
• he to you (another way to avoid he in some
  contexts)

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Reasons for Avoiding Generic He

• 1 Cor. 915-23.
• In America, gender-neutrality is the prestige
  form.
• Some are aggrieved by generic he.

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Reasons for Continuing Generic He

• Needed for accuracy in translation.
• Similar to generic masculines in Hebrew and
  Greek.
• English awkward without he.
• Past literature.
• Newspapers attest generic he.
• Bible memorization.

Needed.
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What Are Orthodox Christians Doing?

• Various things.

sermons, formal oral addresses
modern written materials
you he or she occasionally he
one they occasionally he

• But when translating, much less flexibility
  exists.

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Author Controls Meanings
authors
Ill stick with he because I want an
individual example.
Ill make my sentence plural to avoid he.
God said it. I cant change his meanings.
translator
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Cultural Adaptation?
81
Problem of Crossing Cultures

• Bible must speak of ancient cultures.
• Generic he is gnatfathers are camel.
• Cultural adjustments may increase offense and
  decrease understanding.

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Problem of Crossing Cultures

• Bible must speak of ancient cultures, or else
  produce gross distortion.
• In straining out the gnat of divergent
  generics, one may make less digestable the
  camel of fatherly authority.
• Hence, minor cultural adjustments may be
  counterproductive. They may increase offense and
  decrease understanding.

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Types of Cultural Change

• He to they in (Messianic) psalms (e.g. NRSV
  Ps. 3420)
• Father to parent
• my son (Prov.) to my child
• Son of Man to human being
• Remove masculine elder in 1 Tim. 3
• Remove masculine pronouns referring to God

84
Result

• Distorts meaning of Gods word
• Loss of meaning in
• avoiding generic he
• avoiding male meanings
• Not acceptable because more accurate alternatives.

85
Future Problems

• Bias in gender-neutral translations generate
  suspicion.
• Public reading of any gender-neutral translation
  may prove unacceptable.

86
Future Problems

• Clear bias in gender-neutral translations will
  generate in many people suspicion of
  gender-neutral language translations in general.
• Hence, public reading of any gender-neutral
  translation may prove unacceptable to many.

87
Test of Gender Neutral

• Test by asking what happens to generic he?
• Look at John 1423 as test verse.If anyone
  loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father
  will love him, and we will come to him and make
  our home with him.

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Which Are Gender Neutral?

• The following remove generic he NRSV, NCV,
  GNB(1992), CEV, NIVI, TNIV, NLT, GW.

89
Evaluation on Gender

• Cultural adjustments not acceptable.
• Accuracy is primary.
• Gender-neutral translations cannot serve.
• NIV? NIVI, TNIV break uniformity.
• NASB, NKJV, and ESV are also available, without
  these problems

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Evaluation on Gender

• Cultural adjustments are not acceptable for
  central translation.
• No translation that sacrifices accuracy for the
  sake of cultural approval can be accepted.
• Hence, gender-neutral translations cannot serve
  as central.
• TNIV (2002) and NIVI now split NIV into three.
  Not acceptable for a central translation.
• NASB, NKJV and ESV are also available, without
  these problems.

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Moving People to Use a New Translation

• Dont move precipitously.
• Be realistic.
• Adapt translation to audience capacity.
• Set an example.
• Show benefit, rather than demanding submission.

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Moving People to Use a New Translation

• Dont move precipitously. Give time for love and
  trust to grow.
• Be realistic.
• Be open to more than one translation, adapting to
  audience capacity.
• Set an example.
• Show people the benefit, rather than demanding
  submission.

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7. Practicing Translation
94
Doing Your Own

• When studying a passage.
• Translate to make sure you understand.
• Avoid jargon and traditional expressions.
• A sermon needs freshness, not reiteration.

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Doing Your Own

• When working through a passage.
• Translate to make sure you understand.
• Stay away from religious jargon and traditional
  expressions.
• A sermon needs fresh expression, not merely
  reiteration.

96
Isaiah 5117-20
Mine
GNB
NASB
17 Rouse yourself, rouse yourself. Get up,
Jerusalem. You have drunk the cup of Gods
fury which you got from the Lord. You have
drunk to the bottom the goblet-cup
causing reeling drunkenness. 18 There is no
one to guide her among the sons she has
borne. There is no one to take her by the
hand among the sons she has brought up. 19 Two
things have happened to you. Who will
console you? Devastation and destruction, famine
and war. How may I comfort you? 20 Your sons
have fainted. They have lain down in all the
street intersec- tions, like an ante- lope caught
in a net, Full of the fury of the Lord, the
rebuke of your God.
yrirwO(thi yrirwO(thi 17Mlafwry
yimiwq hwFFhy dy,Ami tytif re)j wOt3mfxj
swOk_at_-t)e hlf('rt_at_aha swOk_at_ t(ab_at_aqu-t)e .tyc\imf
tytif h_at_lf lh'nAm-Ny)' 18 hdfl3FyF
MynIb_at_f-lk_at_fmi h_at_dfyFb_at_ qyzixjma
Ny)'w hlfd\_at_'g_at_i Mynib_at_f-lk_at_fmiK7yita)orqo
hnFh' Myit_at_a 19K7l3F dwnyF ymi rbeehaw
doha brexehaw b(frfhfw .K7m\'xjna)j
ymiwpl_at_(u K7yinab_at_f 20 twOcwx-lk_at_f )rob_at_
wbkf rm3Fkmi )wOotk_at_ hwFhy-tmaxj
My)il'mha\K7yih\flo)v tra(jga
17 Jerusalem, wake up! Rouse yourself and get
up! You have drunk the cup of punishment that
the Lord in his anger gave you to drink you
drank it down, and it made you stagger. 18
There is no one to lead you, no one among
your people to take you by the hand. 19 A Double
disaster has fallen on you your land has
been devastated by war, and your people have
starved. There is no one to show you
sympathy. 20 At the corner of every street your
people collapse from weakness they are like
deer caught in a hunters net. They have
felt the force of Gods anger.
17 Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself! Arise, O
Jerusalem!, You who have drunk from the Lords
hand the cup of His anger The chalice of
reeling you have drained to the dregs. 18
There is none to guide her among all the
sons she has borne Nor is there one to take
her by the hand among all the sons she has
reared. 19 These two tings have befallen
you Who will mourn for you?-- The devastation
and destruction, famine and sword How shall
I comfort you? 20 Your sons have fainted, They
lie helpless at the head of every street, Like
an antelope in a net, Full of the wrath of the
Lord, The rebuke of your God.
9.32
97
Isaiah 5117-20
Mine
yrirwO(thi yrirwO(thi 17 Mlafwry
ymiwq hwFFhy dy,Ami tytif re)j wOtm3Fxj
swOk_at_-t)e hlf('rt_at_aha swOk_at_ t(ab_at_aqu-t)e .tyc\imf
tytif h_at_lf lh'nAm-Ny)' 18 hdfl3FyF
MynIb_at_f-lk_at_fmi h_at_dfyFb_at_ qyzixjma
Ny)'w hlfd\_at_'g_at_i Mynib_at_f-lk_at_fmi
17 Rouse yourself, rouse yourself. Get up,
Jerusalem. You have drunk the cup of Gods fury
which you got from the Lord. You have drunk to
the bottom the goblet-cup causing reeling
drunkenness. 18 There is no one to guide
her among the sons she has borne. There is no one
to take her by the hand among the sons she has
brought up.
9.27
98
Isaiah 5117-20
Mine
K7yita)orqo hnFh' Myit_at_a 19K7l3F dwnyF
ymi rbeehaw doh brexehaw
b(frfhfw .K7m\'xjna)j ymiwpl_at_(u K7yinab_at_f
20 twOcwx-lk_at_f )rob_at_ wbkf rm3Fkmi
)wOotk_at_ hwFhy-tmaxj My)il'mha\K7yih\flo)v
tra(jga
19 Two things have happened to you. Who will
console you? Devastation and destruction, famine
and war. How may I comfort you? 20 Your sons
have fainted. They have lain down in all the
street intersections, like an antelope caught in
a net, Full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke
of your God.
9.27
99
The Problem with Son
Gal. 44-7 (RSV) But when the time had fully
come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman,
born under the law, to redeem those who were
under the law, so that we might receive adoption
as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent
the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying,
Abba! Father! So through God you are no longer
a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

• NRSV and NLT both use child and children
  instead of son(s).

100
Greek and English Structure

• ui9o//j
• quga/thr
• te/knon

• son
• daughter
• child

101
Meaning in Galatians 44-7

• The argument in Galatians depends on union with
  Christ. Since Christ is Son, we also are sons.
  Child does not fully capture the sense.
• NRSV and NLT are ideologically slanted against
  using son even when appropriate.
• Ideological bias destroys trust. It makes a
  translation unacceptable for general purposes.

102
Evaluating the Movement

• Real sins toward women exist.
• Initial cultural movement to try to eliminate
  generic he claimed to rectify past unjust
  exclusion.
• But there was no such exclusion.
• Actually it was a symbolic affirmation of
  feminism. It received extra legitimation from
  the bogus claim of rectification.
• There are secondary consequences.

103
Fallout from Inclusivity

• Social
• Linguistic
• Historical
• Religious

• Gain sensitivity.
• Promote feminism, detect resistance.
• Awkward.
• Cuts off from the past.
• Legalistic.

104
Fallout from Inclusivity

• Social
• Linguistic
• Historical
• Religious

• Gain sensitivity.
• Make ideological headway for feminism, detect
  resistance, and compel comformity. Create a new
  battle.
• Awkward.
• Cuts us off from past.
• Legalistic.

105
Not an Ideal Situation

• Inclusivity has won the elite.
• Many follow (avoid offense).
• He seems insensitive to some.
• Multiple interpretations.

In the world, not of it.
106
Not an Ideal Situation

• Inclusivity has won hegemony for the moment,
  and we must live with the consequences.
• By now, many have accepted the propaganda about
  exclusion and the superior fairness of
  inclusive language.
• The present is confused by multiple
  interpretationsof the same usage.

In the world, not of it.
107
Difficulty with English-Speaking Cultures

• Aim at all speakers over long time.
• International span of English.
• Subgroups differ.
• Avoid fads and constant changes.

108
Difficulty with English-Speaking Cultures

• Ideally, aim at all speakers over a long period.
• International span of English (many nations, many
  cultures).
• America has subcultures and subgroups differing
  in speech.
• For long run use, avoid fads and constant
  changes. (Is this particular change permanent?)