The Bible Translator: Volume 5, Issue 4

Reports on the establishment of the UBS Sub-Committee on Translation. View Less

Deals with the nature of language as it relates to the interpretative and translation process. Discusses three categories: (1) origins of language; (2) nature of language; and (3) function of language. Contemporary linguistic knowledge serves to throw light on a number of aspects of Biblical study. View Less

Gives a brief background study of the making of the Luchazi Bible in southern Angola and northern Rhodesia. View Less

Discusses two principles of biblical translation which he calls (1) philological and (2) inspirational. The philological principle attempts to do the impossible: eliminate the subjectivity and interpretative nature of a translators work. The inspirational principle claims a valid translation because the translator is inspired or has new theological insight (Luther). Using the example of Erasmus (contra Luther), grammar and translation are regarded as the handmaid of theology. The grammarian must trend first before the theologians venture. View Less

Phonemic and practical considerations lie at the base of a sound practical orthography for a language. Presents an orthography problem taken from the Sré language (also called Köho) in southeastern Indochina. Shows that three orthographies have been suggested for Sré and considers how to discern between the value of one over the other. View Less

Should a translation be consistent? Consistency should not be slavishly followed as if one automatically selects from a master list of equivalencies or as if one is not involved in a process of interpretation of each passage. Suggests and illustrates three principles: (1) the same words and phrases in the same contexts should be translated the same way; (2) differences in parallel passages should be preserved just as faithfully as similarities should be conformed; and (3) the study of consistency should be made after the respective portion have been translated, rather than introducing mechanical consistency into the translation process. View Less

The use of te...kai is meant not merely to connect two ideas or nouns, but also to distinguish between them. Examples include Acts 18:5; Hebrews 5:1 and Acts 19:6 with Acts 10:46. View Less

Using John 1:1–18 as a sample passage, the recent new Chinese translation by Lü Chen-Chung is discussed. The article is based on a roundtable discussion between Lü, D. Lancashire of the Hong Kong Bible House and the author. View Less