In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).
Norm Mundhenk tells this story:
“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”
In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
In many languages, “events which are implied in a chronological sequence need to be inserted in the translation (…) In Genesis 11 where the text says, ‘so-and-so lived after (so many sons and daughters so many years),’ at the end of each occurrence the Timbe translation adds, ‘and he died’ to complete the chronological sequence.”
The name that is transliterated as “Arphaxad” or “Arpachshad” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that suggests “expansion of people.” Arphaxad is the grandson of Noah and is known for being a pioneer in the expansion of people. (Source: Missão Kophós )
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Shem” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “Arab,” referring to the fact that Shem traditionally is seen as the forefather of Semitic people, including Abraham and his descendants (see Genesis 11:26 et al.)(Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Note that the terms “Semite” and “Semitic” are derived from “Shem.”
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 11:11:
Newari: “After that he lived another 500 years. Other sons and daughters were born to him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “After Arfaxad was-born, Shem still lived for 500 years and his children continued to-increase-in-number.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “After Arpachshad was born, Shem lived 500 more years and had more sons and daughters.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The second stage of the report on Shem is Shem lived after the birth of Arpachshad five hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. For comments on sons and daughters see 5.4.
Although it is not stated directly, the fact that Shem lived … five hundred years really includes the information that he died at the end of that time. This may not be clear in some languages; and so it may be necessary to put it into words: “… and then he died.”
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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