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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 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.
The concept of “informing” (“telling”) is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-tsuge (お告げ), combining “inform / tell” (tsuge) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
This is what the LORD has said: this expression does not simply introduce a quotation. Rather it emphasizes that what happened was a kind of fulfillment of these words of the LORD. In some languages it may be better to translate “What has happened confirms what the LORD said….” New Jerusalem Bible renders it “This is what Yahweh meant when he said….” Another possibility may be to translate “This is what the LORD was warning (you) about when he said….”
The quotation which follows is an example of Hebrew parallelism, and most modern versions set it off as such and translate the two passive forms, using a similar structure. Good News Translation may not be a good model here, since the parallel structure is less evident.
I will show myself holy …: the source of this quotation is unknown, since it is not found anywhere else in the Old Testament. It may be understood in two different ways, depending on whether the Hebrew verbs are taken as reflexive or passive. 1. If it is understood as reflexive, the resulting translation will be similar to Revised Standard Version or New International Version: “among those who approach me I will show myself holy….” 2. But if taken as a passive, the meaning will be like that in Good News Translation or New English Bible: “among those who approach me I must be treated as holy….” This second interpretation is also the one followed by the Greek Septuagint and by rabbinic tradition. It is therefore this interpretation, rather than the first, that is recommended.
Those who are near me: this is clearly a reference to the priestly class and may be translated directly as “those who serve me as priests” or simply “the priests” if necessary.
Before all the people: that is, to the whole community of Israel, or in this context, “to all my people.”
I will be glorified: the verb used here has the same root as the noun “glory” considered in 9.6 and 23. In this context it means “to be recognized as having glory” or “to reveal glory.” And in many languages it will be necessary to avoid the passive formulation of Revised Standard Version. Some possible models are “all people will honor me as God,” or “all people will give me glory,” or “… will praise me.”
And: to begin the last sentence of this verse, some versions prefer to omit any transition word. However, since the response of Aaron following Moses’ remarks is not what may be expected, it is probably better to use a conjunction like “But” (Good News Translation, New American Bible, An American Translation).
Held his peace: the verb used here may be derived from two different roots: “remain silent” or “bemoan (lament).” Although the second possibility fits the context equally well, almost all versions prefer the first. In many languages it will be more natural to translate “But Aaron said nothing” (New American Bible, Moffatt) or “Aaron remained silent” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). New English Bible is more vivid with “Aaron was dumbfounded” (following the Greek Septuagint).
Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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