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Translation unknowns
1. Translation unknowns
When translating Bible passages, what should be done when the meaning of the passage is unclear? How does one know what intended meaning in order do the translation.
Many Bible translators (and translator organizations) make assumptions that they know what the passages mean. This can be done by implicitly trusting theologians as to the meaning of passages.
Some principles of contemporary software project management can be useful in understanding the trade-offs.
2. Knowledge
It is essential not to profess to know, or to seem to know, or to accept that someone else knows, that which is unknown. James McCarthy (Microsoft software developer and manager)
McCarthy, J. (1995).
Dynamics of Software Development. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press., p. 99.
3. Unknowns
...when something is unknown, the best policy is to state that simple fact, even if the unknown is not knowing when the software will ship. Don't worry about it. No one can be hired to take your place who will be able to know the unknown. James McCarthy (Microsoft software developer and manager)
McCarthy, J. (1995).
Dynamics of Software Development. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press., p. 100.
Identifying parts of a Bible passage that are unknown can, at times, make people feel uncomfortable. Many would rather be in ignorance than to discuss what might be unknown and what the possibilities might be.
4. Ignorance
It is acceptable - even mandatory - to articulate your ignorance, so that no one misjudges the state of things, how much is still unknown. If you don't cultivate and disseminate a "lucid ignorance", disaster will surely befall you. James McCarthy (Microsoft software developer and manager)
McCarthy, J. (1995).
Dynamics of Software Development. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press., p. 99.
5. Jesus
In many of his discourses, Jesus talks in code whereby what is said can be taken in multiple ways. What is interesting is that, on close inspection, each of the many ways can be true (in one or more senses).
Aside: Polished politicians (or University presidents) use double-talk to do this so that everyone hears what it is that they want to hear.
6. Multiple meanings
The problem with text that has multiple meanings is that those multiple meanings can be hard to translate accurately - especially when there may be additional meanings that have not yet been discovered.
7. Matthew and Luke
We see this often in what Jesus says when going from Matthew to Luke.
Matthew, a Jew, was a tax collector, needed to remember details, would have a shorthand to take notes, was an eye witness, etc., and not much later wrote from his memory and notes what had happened.
Luke, a Greek, interviewed people (and likely documents) many years later and had to piece together what had happened from memories, etc.
Luke has some interesting details not present in Matthew, but has many recollections that influence the passages written to follow one of the many possible ways to interpret what was said. Usually this is the more literal interpretation, which is embellished with more details.
Example: In the houses founded on rock on sand, there are no floods. The rivers beat on the houses. But the waters rising and the floods are added in the Luke account. This obscures some of the double meanings that could otherwise be inferred.
8. Contemporary translators
Many contemporary Bible translators make many assumptions on the meaning of passages when they translate them into other languages. Arguments often go along the lines as the following.
Well, the color white as snow that appears to mean good does not mean good in that language, so we will change it to black as coal.
What happens if there are hidden meanings or implications of the original text?
9. Unknowns
...when something is unknown, the best policy is to state that simple fact, even if the unknown is not knowing when the software will ship. Don't worry about it. No one can be hired to take your place who will be able to know the unknown. James McCarthy (Microsoft software developer and manager)
McCarthy, J. (1995).
Dynamics of Software Development. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press., p. 100.
10. ESV
11. New Living Translation
The
NLT (New Living Translation) Bible (1968), as a revision of
TLB (The Living Bible), tends to pick one interpretation and translate to that particular interpretation (English). Thus, "
The Truth Made Clear" may be just one of the possible truths at each translation point. See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Living_Translation (as of 2021-12-01)
Some pastors searching for translations that fit their own bias will use the
NLT. In some cases they will make the comment that they think it "
matches the Greek better" when they may or may not have and suitable understanding of the underlying Greek language.
Some translation issues in the
NLT are discussed here.
12. Original research
In doing research in any area, it is important to go back to the original sources. In order to convince other people at the time, the original sources will go to great lengths to make analogies and intuitive arguments about why they are proposing what they are proposing.
This context gets sanitized over time and one is just presented with those sanitized results.
13. Koran
It is my understanding that a translation of the Islamic Koran, to be considered official, needs to include the original (or approved) Arabic with the target language into which it was translated.
This is rarely done with, say, the
GNT (Greek New Testament).
14. Three errors puzzle
What is not there may be important?
Consider this self-referential sentence that has real issues. First, find them. Then ask yourself the following question. How easy is it to fix them?
15. Middle Ages
The Monks of the Middle Ages tended to keep the original while adding a gloss to explain any parts of the text that might not be clear or that might appear to contain errors.
16. Quran
It is my understanding that, to be official, any translation of the original Islamic Quran (or Koran) must contain the original Arabic. (There may be other requirements; this is just one). Some translations contain glosses that have become somewhat official, so that, in some cases, there are glosses to the glosses.
17. Discussion question
Discussion question: What types of issues arise when a Christian relies on (one or more) English translations of the original Hebrew and/or Greek texts, all of which contain variants and parts that may not be perfectly clear?
18. Automatic language translation errors
Modern automatic language translations systems, such as Google Translate, use machine learning and statistical pattern matching rather than language grammar and spelling rules and specific knowledge of the languages being translated.
So, for example, the Greek word for "
well", as in a "
hole in the ground", might go through English to get translated into Russian as "
well", as in "
very good".
19. Whisper game
Some translation issues arise due to the "
whisper game".
20. Whisper game
The "
whisper game" is a way whereby a message is passed from person to person and tends to change with each retelling - especially when whispering where one cannot clearly hear what is being said.
Most cultures have some name for this type of game which is often popular with children - of all ages.
21. Software recommendations
Whenever I hosted a meeting on which software to use in a class, school, etc., I did not want people on the committee who had only used one software package of that type, or one programming language, one hardware type (e.g., Windows, Mac, Linux) etc.
If you have only ever used one brand of software (hardware, etc.) how can you compare what you have used to what else might be used.
If you have only ever attended one church, one denomination , etc., how can you make valid comparisons?
22. Shakespeare
From Shakespeare (1564-1616):
"It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing." (Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5, lines 26- 28)
23. End of page
