We recently finished checking Acts in the Arli, Gurbet and Chergash languages. It was a four month process, fun to do, but also with many challenges. One of the challenges in Bible translation is what to do when there is implied background information that we know was clear to those who read the New TestamentContinue reading ““Don’t eat strangled animals” (Lost [and Found] in Translation, Installment #16)”
Tag Archives: Lost (and found) in translation
Of Gentile centurions and dirty animals: Lost (and found) in translation, #15; Ariela & Daniel’s school play, “Annie”
BIBLE TRANSLATION UPDATE: Thank you for faithfully praying for us and generously giving financially to support our Bible translation work for Roma in Croatia, Serbia, and beyond. We’re excited that over the next few days the Arli language team will be making an audio recording of the Gospel of Mark which we recently finished translating.Continue reading “Of Gentile centurions and dirty animals: Lost (and found) in translation, #15; Ariela & Daniel’s school play, “Annie””
Genuine or true, pure or clean? Lost (and found) in translation, installment #10
LOST (& FOUND) IN TRANSLATIONWe praise God that we recently finished editing three Roma language translations of the Gospel of Matthew and began Paul’s letter to Titus. (I’m pictured above on Zoom doing a consultant check in Matthew.) In the first chapter there were several issues we had to wrestle with. For example, in TitusContinue reading “Genuine or true, pure or clean? Lost (and found) in translation, installment #10”
New prayer requests; lost (and found) in translation, installment #5: Mt 5:47, “greet your brothers”.
PRAYER REQUESTS Thank you for standing with us in prayer. Here are some fresh prayer requests and praises: Todd’s Mom (age 83), in the nursing home in Oklahoma City, is sleeping more and eating less than she has which shows she is in decline. Please pray for comfort for her. I’ll be visiting her thisContinue reading “New prayer requests; lost (and found) in translation, installment #5: Mt 5:47, “greet your brothers”.”
Lost (and found) in translation: installment #4 ; Luke 1:39-56, Mary’s Magnificat
On Sunday, I preached at our home church from Luke 1:39-56, and in the sermon I pointed out some of the translation issues we have dealt with in translating this passage into five Roma languages in Croatia and Serbia. In this blog post, I want to share them with you as well. This passage includesContinue reading “Lost (and found) in translation: installment #4 ; Luke 1:39-56, Mary’s Magnificat”
Lost (and found) in translation: installment #3 ; Luke 1:1-2
The opening of a story or a letter is important since it sets the tone for, and makes clear the purpose of, what is being written. This is no less true for the books of the Bible, than for any other literature. Luke opens his gospel account with a densely worded introduction and sometimes theContinue reading “Lost (and found) in translation: installment #3 ; Luke 1:1-2”
Lost (and found) in translation: Installment #2: Problem areas or special challenges
There are a number of problem areas, or special challenges, when you are translating the Bible. Let me just mention a few: Implied information: This is what we assume the hearer already knows so we do not need to state it explicitly. It is amazing how much we take for granted when we are talkingContinue reading “Lost (and found) in translation: Installment #2: Problem areas or special challenges”
Lost (and found) in translation: Installment #1: Principles for good Bible translation
Whenever we translate the Bible, there are five principles or five goals that we try to keep in mind. When we translate, what we translated must be: Clear: we want the reader or listener to understand the meaning of the passage. Accurate: we must be faithful to the Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic original and communicateContinue reading “Lost (and found) in translation: Installment #1: Principles for good Bible translation”