The term that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that relates to a) the coat he wore (see Gen 37:3), b) the holding of his clothes by Potiphar’s wife (see Gen 39:12), and c) the many times Joseph experienced grief. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Joseph” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “dream,” referring to Jacob’s dream at Bethel (see Genesis 28:10 and the following verses). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Manasseh” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “bull” referring to Deuteronomy 33:17. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God or a person or persons to be honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-byōki (御病気), a combination of “sick” (byōki) and the honorific prefix go-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 48:1:
Kankanaey: “When time then passed-by, it-was-made-known to Jose that his father was sick. And he took-along the two males who were his sons, Manasses and Efraim.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Some time later someone came to tell Joseph that his father Jacob was very sick [lit.: unwell]. Joseph took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim along and went to see Jacob.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Later there-was-(someone who) told Jose that his father (was) ill. So he brought his two children who (were) Manase and Efraim and went to him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Some time later, someone told Joseph, ‘Hey, your father is ill.’ When Joseph heard that, he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see his father.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
After this: the Hebrew says “And it happened after these things,” as in 15.1; 22.1; and 40.1. This expression serves as a transition to a new episode or series of events. However, we must be aware that Joseph is in the capital city and Jacob is in Goshen. Therefore in languages that must account for movements, it may be necessary to have in this opening expression more than a time transition. For example, “Some time later, when Joseph was in the city, he was told that his father in Goshen was ill. So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim and went to Goshen.”
Joseph was told may need to be expressed actively as in the Hebrew: “someone told Joseph,” “they told Joseph,” “Joseph found out,” “Joseph received news,” or “Joseph got word that….”
Behold, your father is ill: Behold, which is not represented by Good News Translation, may suggest that the news is a surprise to Joseph; or it may signal a significant development in the narrative. Note that Revised Standard Version translates this as direct speech, while Good News Translation uses indirect.
So he took with him: see the suggested model above. Note that Good News Translation recognizes that Joseph has to get to where Jacob is. In some languages this is expressed as “he took his two sons … and the three of them went to see him.”
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 .
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.