3rd person pronoun with high register (Japanese)

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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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a third person singular and plural pronoun (“he,” “she,” “it” and their various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. While it’s not uncommon to avoid pronouns altogether in Japanese, there are is a range of third person pronouns that can be used. In these verses a number of them are used that pay particularly much respect to the referred person (or, in fact, God, as in Exodus 15:2), including kono kata (この方), sono kata (その方), and ano kata (あの方), meaning “this person,” “that person,” and “that person over there.”

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also third person pronoun with exalted register.

Translation commentary on John 1:27

He is coming after me (see 1.15,30) must be taken in a temporal sense. In rendering this clause it may be necessary to make a significant shift in the tense, since Jesus’ ministry was to take place after this statement by John the Baptist. Therefore, one may translate “He will be coming after me.” In many languages, however, just to employ a verb “to come” is not enough, for it is a matter not of movement but of coming into prominence. Therefore it may be necessary to say “He will become conspicuous after I am no longer conspicuous” or “He will come into prominence when I am no longer prominent.”

It was the task of the slave to untie his master’s sandals; John indicates that he is not good enough to perform even this humble task for the one who is coming after him. In most languages it is quite clear that untying another person’s sandals is a menial task and the significance of this statement of John the Baptist is readily understood. However, if this is not so in the language concerned, one can either introduce a marginal note or specify the humble character of such an act by saying “I am not even important enough to do such a humble thing as to untie his sandals for him,” or “… to be his servant.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 1:27

1:27a

Some translations, including Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), and Contemporary English Version, begin a new sentence here. But the Greek text continues the sentence begun in 1:26 (see the New Revised Standard Version). You may do so also if it is natural in your language. For examples of other ways to divide the sentences, see the General Comment on 1:26–27.

He is the One who comes after me: Jesus was coming after John in the sense that his ministry would begin after John’s. John had already begun his ministry, but Jesus had not yet begun his ministry. So consider what verb tense is most natural in your language. For example:

Even though I came first (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I ⌊preached⌋ before him, he will ⌊preach⌋ next.

1:27b

the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie: In NT times people normally wore sandals on their feet. These sandals were fastened with thongs (leather strings or strips/straps). Slaves normally untied the thongs of the sandals of their masters. John was saying that he was not worthy (did not deserve) to serve Jesus as a slave. In some languages you may need to make this explicit. For example:

I am not even worthy to be his slave. (New Living Translation (2004))