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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
In just a few cases (such as Goliath and the criminals on the cross next to Jesus referring to themselves), the rude pronoun ore (おれ) instead of the commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is used. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, the Adamawa Fulfulde translation uses the exclusive pronoun, excluding the ranks of Israel (whoever does not fight the Philistine).
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 17:10:
Kupsabiny: “That Philistine spoke with bravery saying that, ‘Today, I want the soldiers of Israel to give me one person to fight with me.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “And that Philistine said, "Today I will disgrace the Israelites. If you have courage, send a man who is able to fight with me. And we will fight."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Now, I am-defying/challenging you (plur.)! [You (plur.)] have- a man -come to me to-fight with me.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “I defy/challenge you men of the Israeli army. Send me a man who will fight with me!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And the Philistine said: Goliath began speaking in verse 8, and he continues to speak in verses 9 and 10. Good News Translation omits the words And the Philistine said, since there is no change in speaker. But translators may wish to retain these words to keep the speaker in focus, if this is natural in the receptor language.
Defy: the same verb is translated “taunted” in Judges 8.15. It suggests an attitude of insolence and contempt. In some language it may be necessary to translate “tried to provoke.” Fox says “I mock.”
The ranks of Israel: see the comments on verse 8.
Give me a man: by using this expression Goliath is challenging his opponents to select a person to engage him in battle. Some other ways of wording this are “choose someone” (Contemporary English Version) and “send one of your men” (New Century Version).
Fight together: not, of course, that they will fight together against someone else, but rather they will “fight it out” (Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible) between the two of them.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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