scholarly journals A Critical Study of Abba Ho Patēr in Romans 8:15 in the New Revised Asante Twi Version (2018)

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Foster Asamoah ◽  
Diana Adjei-Fianko
Keyword(s):  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Word Of God ◽  
Cultural Worldview ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Future Revision ◽  
Romans 8

Bible translation is among the difficult exercises in scholarship because it demands a careful analysis of the biblical text from the source language into the target language. The religio-cultural settings and worldview of the indigenous people are also considered so that they are able to access the word of God as written and meant by the author(s). An example of Bible translation exercise is the New Revised Asante Twi Version (NRATV) 2018, which contains some translation problems. Some texts are not translated but “carried wholly” into the new or target language to make them look as if they form part of the native language. One of such is “Abba,” which is a HebraicAramaic word found in Romans 8:15. Since Abba is not an Asante (and Akan) language, it becomes difficult for the Asante reading community (and by extension all Akan languages) and users of the Asante-Twi Bible to understand and express the concept within their religio-cultural worldview because they do not understand the thought of the author in their language. Using exegetical, mother-tongue hermeneutics and the communicative method of translation as approaches, the study has found out that the translation of …Αββα ὁ πατήρ (…Abba ho Patēr) as …Abba, Agya (…Abba, Father) in the Asante-Twi Bible (2018) should be rendered as “…Agya, M’agya” (Father, My Father). The study has thus added to the interpretations of Romans 8:15 in Asante-Twi. It is being recommended that in the future revision of the Asante-Twi Bible, the Bible Society of Ghana should consider using “…Agya, M’agya” (Father, My Father) in the translation of … Αββα ὁ πατήρ (…Abba ho Patēr).

scholarly journals Was Rhoda Insulted? Re-Reading the Translation of Acts 12:15 in the Asante-Twi Bible

2020 ◽  
pp. 174-185
Author(s):  
EMMANUEL FOSTER ASAMOAH
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous People ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Word Of God ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Original Meaning ◽  
Verbal Insults ◽  
Future Revision

Bible translation is among the most difficult exercises in scholarship, for it needs careful analysis of the biblical texts in the light of the culture of the indigenous people to make the word of God acceptable in their culture, while not deviating from the original meaning. The Asante-Twi Bible (2012) is a product of Bible translation exercise in contemporary scholarship. However, there exist in it some translation problems; some texts which are said by Christians have been translated to carry verbal insults and derogatory remarks in the Asante-Twi language, which are not what the Greek texts intended. An example is Acts 12:15, which suggests that Rhoda was insulted by a group of Christians for saying the truth. Using Mother-tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and exegesis, the study has found out that the translation of οἱ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπαν· Μαίνῃ… (hoi de pros auten eipan…) (“And they said: You are mad!”…) as “Na wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ: Woabɔ dam!...” (And they said to her: You are mad!...) in the Asante-Twi Bible should rather be: “Nanso wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ: Biribi ha wo!...” (But they said to her: You are troubled!...). The study has added to the interpretations of Acts 12:15 in Asante-Twi. It is being recommended that in the future revision of the Asante-Twi Bible, the Bible Society of Ghana should consider using “Na wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ: Biribi ha wo!...” in the translation of οἱ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπαν· Μαίνῃ… (hoi de pros auten eipan…). Keywords: Insult, Bible translation, Mother-tongue, Asante-Twi and Woabɔ dam.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study of to Alfa Kai to Omega in the Greek New Testament (Revelation 1:8) and Asante-Twi Bible

2020 ◽  
pp. 70-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Foster Asamoah
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
Greek New Testament ◽  
Future Revision ◽  
The Church

Bible Translation has been a means the Church uses to bring the Gospel into the language of the recipients to help improve the quality of life of the indigenes. Nonetheless, it must be noted that all over the world most Bible translation materials have experienced numerous revision exercises. An example of this is the Asante-Twi versions of the Bible which has witnessed two revision works; one on the whole Bible in 2012 since its publication in 1964, and a revised New Testament version published in 2013. Even with the recent revised ones, there still exist translation problems, for some words are strange or foreign to the Asante-Twi speaking people; clear example is Revelation 1:8 which is the focus for this study. Using Mother-tongue Biblical Hermeneutics methodology, this thesis delves into the meaning of the Alfa ne Omega no in the Asante-Twi context and its usage in Revelation 1:8; vis-à-vis an exegesis of the Greek word to alfa kai to omega to find its equivalence in the Asante-Twi. It was found from the study that Ahyεaseε ne Awieeε no is the best rendition of to alfa kai to omega . This work has thus added an Akan translation and interpretation of Revelation 1:8 to the knowledge of the field of mother-tongue hermeneutics; and it is being recommended that in the future revision of the Asante-Twi Bible, the Bible Society of Ghana should consider using Ahyεaseε ne Awieeε no to translate to alfa kai to omega (to alpha kai to omega) in Revelation 1:8.

scholarly journals A Critical Study of the Designation of Chapter as Ti by Asante – Twi Bible Readers

2020 ◽  
pp. 220-227
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Foster Asamoah ◽  
Jonathan Edward Tetteh Kuwornu-Adjaottor
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Method ◽  
Native Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Literal Meaning ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Word Of God ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Bible Reading

Bible reading is one of the purposeful activities Christians and users of the Bible engage in it to learn the word of God as well as learning new vocabularies of their native language, especially when they read in their mother-tongue. Asante-Twi Bible readers and users have designated ti for “chapter” in the reading of the Asante-Twi Bible. However, this does not carry the literal meaning of the text; thereby, not helping Asante-Twi Bible users to access the literal and right meaning for “chapter” in the Asante-Twi language. Using the analytical method in reading, this article argues that Asante-Twi Bible users should read chapter as ɔfa, for it carries the literal meaning of the text. Aside helping Asante-Twi Bible users to identify and ascertain the meaning of “chapter” in their language, which builds their vocabulary, it helps them to get the literal and right meaning of the text. The designation of ɔfa for “chapter” by Asante-Twi Bible users and readers keeps them from the “shock of recognition” of carrying a different meaning; it carries the literal and right meaning for “chapter” in the Asante-Twi language. This study has thus added an Akan meaning and translation of “chapter” to the knowledge of Bible reading in Akan, in general, and the Asante-Twi Bible reading communities, in particular. It is being recommended that Asante-Twi Bible users and readers should designate “chapter” as ɔfa in Bible reading which is done either silently or aloud at church, in their homes, or where ever, especially during church services, family devotions, or wherever, for academic and or spiritual purposes. Keywords: Asante-Twi Bible reading, Analytical Method, Chapter, Ti, and Ɔfa

Metaphorical Representations of the Biblical Concepts of Death and Resurrection When Translating in a Buddhist Context

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexey Somov
Keyword(s):  
Target Language ◽  
Conceptual System ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Cognitive Metaphor ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
Standing Up ◽  
Waking Up ◽  
Key Terms ◽  
Buddhist Culture

This article applies Lakoff and Johnson’s cognitive metaphor theory to the key terms of death and resurrection in the Scriptures and examines the translation of these terms into languages with a traditional Buddhist culture whose worldview is different from that of the Bible. The present analysis indicates that in the conceptual system of the biblical authors, the concept of death is metaphorically described as sleep while resurrection is pictured as waking up and standing up. However, in the Buddhist worldview the concept of the resurrection is absent and the concept of death is not always metaphorically extended as sleep. This article discusses the practical possibilities and limits of the representations of these metaphorical extensions in three Buddhist-context translation projects of the Institute for Bible Translation in Russia: Buryat, Kalmyk, and Tuvan. It also offers some suggestions about searching for their possible representations in the target language.

scholarly journals Biblical conceptual sphere as a concept of Taras Shevchenko's idiostyle and its reverbalization in Ukrainian bible translations

2018 ◽  
pp. 155-170
Author(s):  
Oksana Dzera
Keyword(s):  
Word Of God ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
Bible Translations ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
Complete Translation ◽  
Old Greek ◽  
Biblical Concepts

The article elaborates the analysis of Ukrainian translations of the Holy Scripture through the prism of Shevchenko’s metabiblical images. Biblical conceptual sphere is defined as a fragment of biblical picture of the world shaped on the basis of Old Hebrew, less frequently Old Greek imagery and represented by the totality of concepts which are connected through overlapping, interrelation, hierarchy and opposition and are thematically grouped. Verbalizers of biblical concepts contain the complex accumulation of senses reflecting correlations between God and people through specific world perception of ancient Hebrews. The mediating link between the Bible prototext and biblical metatexts is created by national translations of the Holy Scripture that shape national biblical conceptual spheres via multiple deviations of the Hebrew and Greek sources. The deviations affect national phraseology as well as individual authors’ interpretations of the Book of Books. Special attention is devoted to recursive deviation which manifests itself when a national biblical conceptual sphere and even national translations of the Bible contain elements of authors’ biblical intertexts. Taras Shevchenko’s poetry is viewed as the primary Ukrainian recursive biblical intertext. His idiostyle is characterized by the verbalization of biblical concepts through overlapping biblical and nationally-bound senses. Metabiblical images of Shevchenko’s idiostyle are tracked down to the Bible translation done by I. Khomenko and edited by I. Kostetskyij and V. Barka. The editors who represented the baroque tradition of the Ukrainian translation domesticated Khomenko’s version and introduced into it elements of the Ukrainian metabiblical conceptual sphere, predominantly Shevchenko’s metabiblical images. I. Khomenko himself did not approve of this strategy and regarded it as a violation of the Word of God. Yet the monastic order of St. Basil the Great that commissioned this translation did not consult the translator before publishing its edited version. Similar domesticating strategy is observed in the first Ukrainian complete translation of the Bible done by P. Kulish, I. Puluj, and I. Nechuj-Levycjkyj in 1903. Shevchenko’s influence is particularly felt in epithets specifying key biblical images, such as enemy (лютий / fierce) and heart (тихе / meek). Though each book of the Holy Scripture in this translation is ascribed to only one translator of the three it seems logical to surmise that P. Kulish, the founder of the baroque translation tradition in Ukraine, was the first to draw images from Shevchenko’s metabiblical conceptual sphere. The article postulates the necessity to perceive Shevchenko’s poetry as a complete Biblical intertext which not only interprets national biblical canon but also generates it.

scholarly journals Overliteralness and Mother-Tongue Translators

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-61
Author(s):  
Michael Cahill
Keyword(s):  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Word Of God ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Source Language ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
Bible Translations ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Rhetorical Questions

One barrier to quality in Bible translation is a tendency for translators to translate literally from their primary source text. This is a hazard for any translator, but has particular relevance in the case of Mother-Tongue Translators (MTTs) with minimal training, who are bearing an increasingly larger role in new Bible translations around the globe. In this article, we first examine the problem of overliteralness, observing cases of RL structural adherence to the SL in direct speech, ungrammatical sentences, mistranslation of rhetorical questions, use of idioms, and neglect of discourse factors, etc. The problem of overliteralness extends to information and emotional impact implicit in the SL that is not made explicit in the RL. Reasons for overliteralness include the natural intuitiveness of translating literally, respect for the Word of God (they don’t want to change it), and MTTs’ unawareness of their own language patterns. Since translation consultants are not always familiar with the receptor language, these types of mistakes may escape notice in the checking process. Nonetheless, many MTTs do excellent translation work. We present two major factors that help MTTs avoid overliteralness. Through training and mentoring, they need to absorb the translation principle that gives them “permission” to not be literal. Next, deliberate study of structures of their own language is key, especially contrasting it with structures of the primary source language. Cases where these types of activities are already being done will be presented, and more are encouraged.

scholarly journals Translation Methods Found in New Testament Bible of Mark’s Gospel

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-179
Author(s):  
Ni Wayan Swarniti
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Formal Method ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Translation Theory ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Free Translation ◽  
Data Source ◽  
Translation Methods

Language is one of the important things in human life. By using the language, we can communicate with others. This research tried to analyze the bible translation by using methods of translation theory by Newmark (1988). This research was a qualitative research that focused to analyze the Gospel according to Mark. Bible entitled New Testament (2005) was published by The Indonesian Bible Society for The Gideons International. It was printed by Percetakan Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia. The book consists of 727 pages. Informal method was used to present the results of the analysis. It was the explanation of the translation methods used. Formal method was used to describe the table of the frequency of the translation methods applied in the bible translation found in new testament bible of Mark’s gospel. The translation methods found in data source were word for word translation, literal translation, faithful translation, semantic translation, free translation, idiomatic translation, and communicative translation. Adaptation was not found in all chapters of data source. The most translation method applied in new testament bible of Mark’s gospel was free translation. Free translation had the highest percentage in every chapter in new testament bible of Mark’s gospel. In the other word, the translator tried to transfer the meaning from source text into target text with changing the form based on cultures in target language.

scholarly journals Significance of Mother Tongue influence on Saudi Female EFL Learners: a Critical Discourse Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 329-342
Author(s):  
Shadma Iffat Rahmatullah
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Efl Learners

The speculation, that the Saudi EFL learners with less exposure to the target language exhibit more mother tongue influence on their second language speaking, is apparent. The phonetic similarity of two languages helps EFL learners to grasp the lexical accent with the accurate articulation of the words from the second language. However, the difference in sound patterns in various languages prompts the learners to mispronounce the words more frequently. This critical study endeavors to evaluate the influential aspects of the mother tongue on the EFL learners’ second language (L2) discourse. This research is carried out through a qualitative method for critical discourse analysis to answer the main question; what significant errors students make that reflect their mother tongue influence? For a comparative study, the participants are the Saudi undergraduates from multidimensional sections of female colleges in King Khalid University and the non-native English-speaking teachers from five different nations, who also manifest the influence of their mother tongue on English language speaking. Their recorded presentations and conversations were analyzed to identify the interference of their mother tongue on their English language performance. The language patterns of both students and the teachers eventually affect their English language efficiency. The significant outcome of this study reveals the possibility of the pros and cons of the mother tongue on L2 learning. The data also revealed that the inability of faculty members to produce the flawless accent of the English language has a significant effect on Saudi learners’ oral performance.

scholarly journals Significance of Mother Tongue influence on Saudi Female EFL Learners: a Critical Discourse Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shadma Iffat Rahmatullah
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Efl Learners

The speculation, that the Saudi EFL learners with less exposure to the target language exhibit more mother tongue influence on their second language speaking, is apparent. The phonetic similarity of two languages helps EFL learners to grasp the lexical accent with the accurate articulation of the words from the second language. However, the difference in sound patterns in various languages prompts the learners to mispronounce the words more frequently. This critical study endeavors to evaluate the influential aspects of the mother tongue on the EFL learners’ second language (L2) discourse. This research is carried out through a qualitative method for critical discourse analysis to answer the main question; what significant errors students make that reflect their mother tongue influence? For a comparative study, the participants are the Saudi undergraduates from multidimensional sections of female colleges in King Khalid University and the non-native English-speaking teachers from five different nations, who also manifest the influence of their mother tongue on English language speaking. Their recorded presentations and conversations were analyzed to identify the interference of their mother tongue on their English language performance. The language patterns of both students and the teachers eventually affect their English language efficiency. The significant outcome of this study reveals the possibility of the pros and cons of the mother tongue on L2 learning. The data also revealed that the inability of faculty members to produce the flawless accent of the English language has a significant effect on Saudi learners’ oral performance.

scholarly journals Textwahrheit und Übersetzen. Beobachtungen an neueren Bibelübersetzungen

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Radegundis Stolze
Keyword(s):  
Literary Form ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Original Text ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Bible Translation ◽  
Bible Translations ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Original Message ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Interpretation

Recently many new German bible translations have appeared. The article first presents a comparison of paragraphs from ten different translations, with examples taken from the New Testament. This shows some basic trends. On the one hand, the objective of bible translation is Christian education, edification and worship usage. On the other hand, some translations focus on the cultural information, easy readability and inclusive language. Such orientation accepts purposeful adaptation and thus modifies the original text. And there are a few translations that constitute the product of an individual interpretation of the text, and its presentation in a literary form. The discussion of these translation trends is complemented by a critique of the prominent focus on the language rather than on the message, and the question of a text's truth and a translator's linguistic awareness is raised. The traditional translation criticism distinguishing between literal and target-oriented translation, and even cultural adaptation, is integrated here by a discussion of the procedural, functional, objectivistic and ethical implications of the new bible translations. One feature of all recent projects of bible translation seems to be a pedagogical concern. Authors think that they need to guide readers in their interpretation, because those may be unable to understand the very old, strange and often opaque text; or they might misunderstand it and thus miss the true message; or they should learn something about the historic culture; and last but not least, traditional patriarchal attitudes promoted by Christianity should be overcome with a new text. The idea is that people's thinking can be directed by language. Thus the question is raised, whether a translation should also be an interpretation. In a critical view of the interpretive translation, this article presents the hermeneutic approach to translation. This implies a well-informed openness as an attitude towards the original message, rather than a method. The focus is neither on language structure nor on the addressees, but on the text's message. This includes the problem of understanding a written text, what is never a matter of fact. The text's theological exegesis is a prerequisite for the translation, but the value of that translation is not only based on that. Translation aims at a faithful representation of the message and opens the direction of a text, but the individual interpretation is always done by the readers themselves. When the translator as a reader identifies himself with the message, s/he will cognitively produce formulations apt to give resonance to this message. The translator becomes a co-author of that text, and just as for the original author, one will never totally govern the readers' understanding. The translator's voice will be more convincing, when only one person is responsible for the text production, different from the team works in various official projects of bible translation. Even if the bible as such is a composition of many different books and pieces of texts, these manifold voices may be better noted by one translator alone, rather than by many contributors, each of whom as a specialist only translates one book. Finally, the stylistic shape of the target text is decisive. The bible translator should have an excellent knowledge of the target language, in order to present various nuances. Translating is not an information about an original text, it represents that original message in another language.

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