The term that is used for monarchs in ancient Egypt and is transliterated as “Pharaoh” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the sign signifying the “fake metal beard (postiche)” that was word by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 41:4:
Kankanaey: “and they abruptly-ate those good-looking-ones. Then the king woke-up.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Then the thin cows which were only skin and bones ate the fat cows. At that time Pharaoh awoke from sleep.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “and they then/right-away came-near to the seven beautiful and fat cows and ate-(them). Then the king woke-up.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then the unhealthy thin cows ate the seven healthy fat cows. And then the king woke up.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
This verse strengthens the bizarre picture in the dream: grass-eating cows suddenly become meat-eaters.
And the gaunt and thin cows ate up the … cows: in some languages it is necessary to provide a transition between the action of the thin cows in verse 3 and what they do in this verse. For example, we may say “Then suddenly the thin and ugly cows began eating the strong and well-fed cows and ate them up completely.”
The dream is so startling that the king wakes up.
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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