sheep

“Sheep are known throughout most of the world, even though, as in Central Africa, they are a far cry from the fleecy wool-producing animals of colder climates. Where such animals are known, even by seemingly strange names, e.g. ‘cotton deer’ (Yucateco) or ‘woolly goat’ (Inupiaq), such names should be used. In some instances, one may wish to borrow a name and use a classifier, e.g. ‘an animal called sheep’. In still other instances translators have used ‘animal which produces wool’, for though people are not acquainted with the animals they are familiar with wool.” (Source: Bratcher / Nida)

In Dëne Súline, it is usually translated as “an evil little caribou.” To avoid the negative connotation, a loan word from the neighboring South Slavey was used. (Source: NCAM, p. 70)

Note that the often-alleged Inuktitut translation of “sheep” with “seal” is an urban myth (source Nida 1947, p. 136).

See also lamb.

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 29:8)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation both use the exclusive pronoun, excluding Jacob.

complete verse (Genesis 29:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 29:8:

  • Newari: “They said — As long as all the sheep are not gathered, and as long as the rock has not been rolled away from the mouth of the well, we will not be able to do like that. As soon as that happens, we will be able to give water to the sheep to drink.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They replied, ‘We (excl.) can- not -do that if all the sheep are- not first -gathered. If all are now indeed here, that is now (the time) we roll the cover [linker] stone so-that they will-be-allowed-to-drink.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They replied, ‘No, we cannot do that until all the flocks are gathered here and the stone is removed from the top of the well. After that, we will give water to the sheep.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 29:8

The herders reply We cannot [water the animals] until all the flocks are gathered together. This part of the verse repeats the customary events of gathering the sheep and removing the stone, as given in Gen 29.3. In languages that do not use the construction cannot … until, it is possible to say, for example, “We have to wait here for the other shepherds [or, flocks]. When they come we can roll the stone away from the well. We have to water all the sheep together.”

In some languages the reply of the herders will naturally begin with a negative word or expression. Examples from some translations are “No. We can’t do that”; “No. We don’t do it like that.”

For stone is rolled see the comments in Gen 29.3.

Then we water the sheep: that is, “after removing the stone from the well, we water the sheep.”

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 .