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. When the referent is God or a person or persons to be greatly honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-zonji (ご存じ), a combination of “know” (zonji) and the honorific prefix go-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 3:25
You know that …: this information has been placed at the end of the verse in Good News Translation. Others may prefer to keep this at the beginning of the verse but make the meaning clearer by saying something like “You know what kind of person Abner is!”
The son of Ner: the Septuagint and a manuscript from Qumran omit these words, but Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives a {B} evaluation to the Masoretic Text. For translation purposes, however, see the comments on verse 23 above.
Your going out and your coming in: in Hebrew the expression “go out and come in” usually signifies military action, that is, military maneuvers (so Josh 14.11; Psa 121.8; 1 Sam 18.13, 16; 29.6). The rendering “your movements” (Moffatt, Revised English Bible, New International Version, and Anderson) reflect this military context. The Contemporary English Version translation “He wants to find out how strong your army is” maintains the military context, but misses the point that the Hebrew refers to planned movement of David’s troops. It is possible, but less likely, that the reference is to the general daily activity of David.
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 .
respectful form of "do" (nasaru)
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 of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
In these verses, nasaru (なさる), the respectful form of suru (する) or “do” is used. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.