formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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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 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).

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

Honorary "are" construct denoting God ("vow")

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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, chikaw-are-ru (誓われる) or “vow” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 4:21

Furthermore: this is misleading, not justified by the text or context. It is better to start a new paragraph with this verse, as does New Revised Standard Version. The restructuring of Good News Translation can be imitated, “Because of you the LORD was angry with me,” or that of Contemporary English Version, “The LORD was angry with me because of what you said.”

Angry with me: no attempt should be made to soften the vivid language used in the Bible of God’s feelings. For angry or “angered” see 1.34, 37.

On your account: see 1.37; 3.26. In Num 20.12 and Deut 32.48-52 the fault is said to lie with Moses and Aaron.

He swore: see 1.8.

I should not cross the Jordan and I should not enter: this is essentially one action, not two: “I would not cross the Jordan River to enter…” (Good News Translation), or “that he would not let me cross the River Jordan into the….”

That good land: rich, fertile; New Jerusalem Bible “the fine country.” See also 1.25.

Gives you for an inheritance: this is the first occurrence of the noun (see the verb “inherit” in 1.38). The meaning is that the land of Canaan is a gift from God. Since inheritance usually assumes the death of the original owner, it is better not to use it; so Good News Translation “he is giving you” (also Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Contemporary English Version); see also verse 38.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .