speak (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

In this verse, the Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “speak” or “say” or similar in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-hanashi (お話し), combining “speak” (hanashi) with the respectful prefix o-.

Another respectful way of saying “speak” in Japanese is by using o-katari (お語り), combining “speak” (katari) with the respectful prefix o-. In the Shinkaiyaku Bible this is used in Exodus 20:19 (Moses’ speech), 2 Samuel 7:25, 2 Samuel 7:29, and 1 Chronicles 17:23. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

complete verse (2 Samuel 20:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 20:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “There was in that city a certain woman who was wise. That woman went up on top of the wall and shouted, ‘Listen, our people, please listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so that I can tell him a word.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then a wise woman, standing on the outside wall called out loudly like this, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here [lit.: Tell Joab ‘Come here!’], I will talk with him."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, there was a wise woman inside the town who shouted to the men of Joab, ‘You (plur.) listen to me! You (plur.) tell Joab to come to me here for I want to talk to him.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then a wise woman who was in that town stood on the top of the wall and shouted down, ‘Listen to me! Tell Joab to come here, because I want to talk to him!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (kīte)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, kīte (聞いて) or “listen” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Japanese benefactives (chikazuite)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, chikazuite (近づいて) or “come close” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Japanese benefactives (itte)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, itte (言って) or “say” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 20:16

A wise woman: Joab had previously used a “wise woman” (14.2) to speak to David during the time when Absalom was in exile. In this case such a woman speaks to Joab. The presence of such “wise women” in stories like this reminds one of the personification of wisdom as a woman in Proverbs.

Hear! Hear! These words are intended to attract the attention of Joab’s soldiers, who would in turn get Joab to come near enough to the wall so that the woman could speak directly to him. Since this message had to bridge a considerable distance and compete with other noises, it had to be something that was “called out” (Anderson) or “shouted” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and New Century Version as well as Good News Translation).

The quotation of what the woman wanted someone to tell Joab is direct in Hebrew (and also in Revised Standard Version) but will probably be better translated indirectly in other languages, since it is a part of a larger quotation. If it is made indirect, the pronouns will have to be changed. A possible model is “Tell Joab to approach [the wall] so that I can talk to him.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .