22“Fellow Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know—
The name that is transliterated as “Nazareth” in English is translated in Hungarian Sign Language with a sign that refers to blossoming and spring: it depicts the growth of young shoots. The word Nazareth is derived from the Hebrew word netzer, which means bud, blossom, sprout, or shoot. This linguistic connection is particularly significant for Messianic prophecies, such as in the Book of Isaiah: A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch (netzer) will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1). Thus, the sign in sign language does not only identify a city, but also visually connects Nazareth with the prophetic title of Jesus. The translation highlights that the sign in sign language is essentially a visual exegesis: with a single motion, it teaches the profound etymological connection between the name of the city and the promise of the Savior. The sign is more than just a word, a label; it is simultaneously a commentary, an interpretation. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
The Greek that is typically translated in English as “sign” is translated in Huehuetla Tepehua as “thing to be marveled at” (source: Larson 1889, p. 279) and in Mairasi as “big work” (source: Enggavoter 2004).
The Greek and Hebrew that are often translated as “miracles” or “miraculous powers” into English are translated as “thing which no one has ever seen before” (San Blas Kuna), “thing marveled at” (Tepeuxila Cuicatec), “breathtaking thing” (Ngäbere), “long-necked thing” (referring to the onlookers who stretch their necks to see) (Huautla Mazatec), “sign done by God’s power” (Mossi), “supernatural power” (Javanese), “thing that has heaven-strength” (Highland Totonac) (source for all above: Bratcher / Nida), “amazing thing” (Muna) (source: René van den Berg), “sign no one else could do” (Tenango Otomi) (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125), or “impossible thing” (Mairasi) (source: Enggavoter 2004).
The Greek that is often translated as “wonder” into English is different from the term that is translated as “miracle” (see miracle) since it “usually involves some unusual phenomena in nature which are a portent of dire woe or extraordinary blessing.” In Huichol these are “awe-inspiring things,” in Yucateco they are “things which show what is coming,” and in Eastern Highland Otomi the expression must be cast into the form of a verb phrase “they will amaze the people.”
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 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-shōchi (ご承知), a combination of “be aware” (shōchi) and the honorific prefix go-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:22:
Uma: “And Petrus added on to his words, he said: ‘My relatives of Israel! Listen to this that I say to you. Yesus of Nazaret, he is the one chosen and appointed by God to be the Redeemer King. God caused you to know that Yesus was the Redeemer King, for he gave him power to do many surprising signs and powerful things and big happenings. You saw all this, relatives, and you know that it is true.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Petros said further, ‘My fellow people of Isra’il, listen to this that I am saying. Isa, the man of Nasaret, it is known that he truly was sent by God because he was given supernatural-power by God, that’s why he could do works of power and works of wonder and signs. You really know this because he did this here among you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Peter said again, ‘You my companion descendants of Israel, listen to that I have to say. Jesus from Nazareth, he was sent here by God. God caused us (incl.) to understand that Jesus was his servant by means of his power and by means of the amazing things and signs which God caused him to do. You already know this which I am telling you for all of these things took place here in your country.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Then he continued saying, ‘My companions who are descendants of Israel, please hear this that I will say. God confirmed to you that it was Jesus from-Nazaret whom he sent by-means-of the amazing miracles and signs that he was-having-him -do. You know that because it happened here among you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Pedro went on to say, ‘You who are my fellow descendants of Israel, listen well to this which I am saying. As for Jesus the taga Nazaret, it’s clear that he was sent/entrusted by God. The proof is, by the strength of the supernatural-power of God, really far-from-ordinary were the signs which were amazing things which he did here among you. You are indeed aware of this for it happened before your eyes.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
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 to do this is through the usage of appropriate suffix title referred to as keishō (敬称) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017 by either using -san or –sama with the latter being the more formal title.
In these verses, the Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “everyone” or similar in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as mina-san (皆さん), combining the word for “everyone” (nī) and the suffix title –san. This creates a higher sense of familiarity and equality than for instance the same term with the more respectful title –sama at young people (Japanese honorifics). (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
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 formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.