The Bible Translator: Volume 15, Issue 4

The missionary character of Christianity is one of the leading factors which led to a two-way relationship between Christianity and linguistics with contributions in different directions at different periods. This treatment is concerned with the influences of Christian missions on the history of linguistics, together with the contributions made in turn by linguistics to Christian missions. The first article sketches the historical period from the early church through the Post-Reformation period. The second article continues the historical sketch by focusing on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The first two articles assess the use of language materials and theoretical work that is done in the period. The third article presents the major areas of interchange between linguistics and missions, with emphasis upon contemporary developments and implications. View Less

Surveys the history of the Arabic Bible in the twentieth century. Discusses a few of the problems of interpretation associated with the Arabic Bible. View Less

Evaluates the use of “but” in the Authorized Version (KJV) and the NEB in the Gospel of Mark and compares its use in the African languages of Mandinka and Dagbani. The correct use of conjunctions is one of the most difficult features of a language for a foreigner to master. The function, meaning and translation of alla, de, and plen are discussed. View Less

Outlines the general features which distinguish the character of tribal languages from national or literary languages. The cultural and religious isolation of tribal languages is significant in this differentiation. Tribal languages are defined against the background of India’s multi-cultural setting. View Less

Highlights two types of translation problems that grow out of the relationship between language and culture: (1) the “culture-boundness” of words, and (2) the differences in the unspoken patterns of conflicting world-views. The study emphasizes the need for translators to study the relationship between anthropology and linguistics. View Less

Reflects on the nature and value of Translators’ Institutes. View Less

Explains why his translation uses the feminine gender in rendering pronominal references to the Holy Spirit. View Less