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).
The term that is transliterated as “Abram” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign signifying sojourning with a staff, clearly differentiating it from Abraham. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Abram” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Similarly, in Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with a sign that demonstrates that he has to wander from his home. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)
“Abram” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL
The term that is transliterated as “Hagar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter H and “escaped,” referring to Genesis 21:14. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Hagar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that combines “Egypt” and “servant,” referring to the fact that Hagar was a slave from Egypt (see Genesis 16:1). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The term that is transliterated as “Ishmael” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter I and the sign signifying “stubborn” (also similar to “donkey”), referring to Genesis 16:12. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Ishmael” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts shooting bow and arrow, referring to the fact that Ishmael was skilled with his bow (see Genesis 21:20). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 16:16:
Kankanaey: “Eighty and six were the years of Abram when- Hagar -gave-birth to that-aforementioned child of hers/his.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “At that time Abram was eighty-six (86) years old.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “The age of Abram was 86 years when Ishmael was born.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son Ishmael.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The report of Ishmael’s birth concludes by giving the age of Abram at the birth of his first son.
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram: it may be more natural in many languages to say “When Ishmael was born to Hagar, Abram was eighty-six years old” or “When Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, Abram was eighty-six years old.” Note that Good News Translation does not repeat the reference to giving birth but simply says “at that time.” Translators may find this a suitable model.
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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