The Bible Translator: Volume 72, Issue 2

In this article I look at articles in past issues of The Bible Translator to note what they say about sign language Bible translation (SLBT) and to highlight areas of particular importance to today’s SLBT movement. After a summary and some updates on the history of the movement, I look at the various issues raised in the articles about SLBT work, covering topics such as Deaf identity, issues surrounding sign language, the need for Deaf ownership, setting up SLBT projects, and the process of translation. View Less

Since its publication and subsequent revisions, the Good News Bible (GNB) has remained popular among certain segments of the population, used by millions of people. It often serves as a model text for Bible translation projects in various parts of the world that adopt the functional equivalence approach, with far-reaching consequences. This article begins with a brief overview of GNB, examines some issues pertaining to using GNB as a model text, and highlights some areas where GNB could be adapted and localized to better serve the needs of the intended users. View Less

It has been observed that “words do not have meanings but rather meanings have words.” But even more, words and phrases, usually thought of as the basic units of meaning, actually should be seen as having only usages within contexts. These contexts themselves are the elements of communication that activate mental and bodily states and processes, and can be properly thought of as the construal of meaning. Sometimes these contexts of usage are shaped by phonological or grammatical patterns (see B. Bergen), sometimes by sociological factors such as reciprocity (see E. Goffman), and of course most commonly by lexical (usually radial) patterns and categories (traditionally presented as “semantic domains”). Cognitive linguists (e.g., Lakoff, Turner) have been hinting at something like this for a long time, but a clear restatement of what constitutes semantics is overdue. View Less

This article discusses the Punjabi New Testament in Persian script. It explores different phases of its preparation and its translation features, as well as the individuals who contributed to its translation and revision. View Less

This study investigates the use of the Talmy-Slobin typology of semantic components of motion verbs as applied to Bible translation. Using the Bup Kudus Baru, a new Iban translation, in comparison with a framework formed by the Hebrew original, NRSV representing English translation, and occasionally a Chinese translation, the author demonstrates the key features of verb-framed, satellite-framed, and equipollently-framed languages. The analysis of two Hebrew motion verbs, yāșā’ (path verb) and hālak (manner verb), and their respective Iban translations in Bup Kudus Baru, shows that the Iban language, much like Malay and Urak Lawoi’ from the same language family, is of path-salient nature in principle, but at the same time displays the use of serial verb constructs, a feature of equipollently-framed languages when manner verbs are required. The author concludes with some suggestions of ways to apply the Talmy-Slobin model in Bible translation, from the point of view of translators, translation officers, and their institutions. View Less

Bible translation is not a neutral activity, divested of any moral, spiritual, or cultural claim or responsibility. Form has often distorted meaning but happily meaning has often created new hybrid forms in different cultures. This paper addresses the need to work out the incarnational aspect of Bible translation in terms of a conscious multimodal perspective. First, there is a need for a philosophical-theological account of the dialectical relationship between form and meaning. Second, we need to reinterpret the relationship among different types of embodied performance, such as oral and written translation, as part of the same multimodal reality. Finally, Bible translation should promote the appropriation of Scripture through the community’s culture in different forms in order to unleash its transformational power. Multimodal theory can offer a valuable tool to treat all types and modes of translation as equal, but distinct, expressions, thus acknowledging different cultures, people groups, and communities of faith. View Less

Bible translations in (or for) Greater China may be classified into three categories: Chinese, Han dialects, and indigenous languages. All these language groups witness translation activities by Protestant missionaries. However, in its earliest history, Bible translation was pioneered by missionaries of Eastern Christianity in the seventh century or even earlier, whereas from the Catholic side, clear historical narrative has recorded Bible translation work in the thirteenth century by John of Montecorvino (1247–1328) into a Tatar language. Sadly, this work was not preserved. The earliest extant Bible translation in this vast area was published in 1661 in the Siriya language of Taiwan. This article reports on two major digitization projects: digitization of old Chinese Bibles (1707–1960), including 51 translations in total, and digitization of Bibles in Han dialects/fangyan and indigenous languages (1661–1960)—about 50 languages (including dialects) and 60 translations. These two projects represent the largest and most systematic full-text digitization of the Bible heritage of the area ever undertaken. View Less