The Bible Translator: Volume 36, Issue 4

In European translations, Hebrew names of God have been transliterated, translated by a culturo-linguistic equivalent, and translated by the meaning of the name. Some translations obliterate Hebrew distinctions or maintain distinctions by means of capital versus lower case letters. Others introduce distinctions not in the original. A variety of methods may be found in any single translation. Appendix gives listing of translation of names in selected passages. View Less

Choice of divine names in translation was based on (1) simple solutions consistent with dynamic equivalence translation and (2) terms which would be acceptable to all religious groups using the translation. ‘Elohim is rendered Dieu, YHWH as Seigneur, ‘adonai as le/mon Maitre, etc. View Less

YHWH is the personal name of God and is translated “the LORD” in the GNB though that term is really a title, not a name. ‘El or ‘elohim may refer to god, gods or God. ‘Adon or ‘adonai is translated “lord” or “Lord.” Combined forms are also noted. View Less

In Warlpiri, the most common term for God is wapirra. Other descriptive terms are applied. Recently the transliterated form Kaatu has been used. To avoid making the Christian God something foreign, Kaatu is combined with a local descriptive term meaning “timelessness,” especially where YHWH is used in the original. Another term, “owner, possessor” is used to translate kurios. View Less

A Bible translation draft on a computer tape or disk, (1) reduces retyping time, (2) allows for easy revision, (3) is compatible with composition and typesetting routines, and (4) remains available for future revisions. Translators or their typists should become familiar with standard format markers. The computer can also produce lists to check consistency in translation of key words. Actual machine translation is not yet possible. View Less

The ideophone (representation of an idea in sound) has not been used much in translation, yet it figures prominently in daily discourse and is a powerful literary device. Examples from Gbaya translation show how poetry and parables are enhanced if the ideophone does not detract from the message. View Less

In the comic medium, captions, communication balloons, kinesic communication, sound effects and pictures must be in balance for success. (1) Certain Scripture texts are not appropriate. (2) No scene or dialogue is used which is not explicitly or implicitly in the biblical text. (3) Narrative and report speech may be transformed into dialogue. (4) The result should be consistent with known audience attitudes and approximate the response of the original receptors. View Less

The term huiothesia (adoption; appears in Rom. 8:15; 8:23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; and Eph. 1:5) has been undertranslated in the GNB and NEB, and inconsistently handled in other modern translations. After responding to possible objections to adoption terminology, restoration of the adoption image in the GNB is proposed. Suggested translations are provided. View Less

Objects to the handling of the book of Esther by the Jerusalem Bible where the Hebrew and Greek versions of Esther are amalgamated into a unified version. This is textually unsatisfactory. View Less

Gives an example of how Papua New Guinea Pidgin English (known as Tok Pisin) borrowed the word “God” as a personal name rather than a class name. View Less

Discusses the principles followed and the problems encountered in producing a version of the NT for the mentally handicapped by the Indonesian Bible Society. View Less