“Individuals who work extensively with foreign languages have stressed the violent nature of translation. They have described translation as both damaging the original work and warping the target language. They explain that the transference between languages is never perfect. There are always losses. Despite great precautions, casualties invariably take place. One of the most well-known individuals to speak of violence in translation is Saint Jerome. He compares the translator to a conqueror who invades the foreign, takes captive thoughts and meaning, and brings them back to Latin soil.”— From Fratricide to Forgiveness: The Language and Ethics of Anger in Genesis , page 19
<idle musing>
The title of the post is an Italian proverb that means "the translator is a traitor"—too true, I fear. Not that the modern translations of scripture are wrong; they aren't. But, the overlap between languages is never one-for-one, consequently, caveat lector (let the reader beware).
</idle musing>
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4 comments:
This was the reason I began studying Biblical Greek my freshman year in college, and one thing led to another.
There is a case to be made for all Christians to learn to read at least Greek, if not Hebrew as well. The Muslims and Jews recognize this. And achieve some success with teaching Arabic and Hebrew...
Kirk,
Would that seminaries and colleges agreed with you!
James
It's not the seminaries and colleges that are the problem. They reflect the values of their constituencies. It's the men and women in the pews that we have to convince.
I know. I've tried. See my success. :-(
Kirk,
You are correct. But, if the institutions would work at educating their constituents...
Right :(
James
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