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)
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 Joshua 16:4:
Kupsabiny: “The clan of Manasse and that of Ephraim who were of the house of Joseph got their land.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “In this way the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim’s descendants of got their portion.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “This is the portion that the tribes of Manase and Efraim who (were) the descendants of Jose received.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “That is the land that the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh were allotted.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Unless a reader is experienced with commas, he may not realize that The descendants of Joseph and the tribes of Ephraim and West Manasseh are one and the same. To clarify, one possibility would be “The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh received this land as their possession. These tribes were the descendants of Joseph.”
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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