The Greek that is translated in English as “fig tree” is translated in Lokạạ with figi, an indigenized transliteration of the English “fig.”
“The Lokạạ translators noted that they could not use the name of their local fig kẹkamati, which is very close to the fig family but only a shrub. This is because of the appearance of the Greek term for fig tree in verses such as John 1:48, where the fig tree is an enjoyable place for sitting in the shade. The Lokạạ translators decided to use an iconic translation of the English “fig”, which they indigenised as figi in Lokạạ. Since the term figi could not easily be connected to the indigenous term kẹkamati, readers would not have difficulty with passages such as John 1:48, in which people sit under the fig tree.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
In British Sign Language it is translated with a sign that combines the signs for “tell-a-story” and “compare.” (Source: Anna Smith)
“Parable” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
Scot McKnight (in The Second Testament, publ. 2023) translates it into English as analogy because “the Greek word has the sense of tossing down something alongside something else. Hence an analogy.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 21:29:
Noongar: “Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Remember the fig tree and other trees.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uma: “Yesus spoke to his disciples with this parable, he said: ‘Notice the ara tree and other trees too.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Then Isa parabled to them, he said, ‘Take notice of the fig tree and other trees.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus told them a parable, he said, ‘Think about the trees, especially the fig tree.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Then Jesus related to them this parable. He said, ‘Think about the fig (Ilo. loan igos) tree and other trees.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “And then Jesus gave an illustration which he caused them to hear, saying, ‘Observe the igos tree and other trees.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
kai eipen parabolēn autois ‘and he told them a parable,’ introductory formula marking the addition of an independent part, cf. 6.39. For parabolē cf. on 4.23. autois refers to the disciples.
idete tēn sukēn kai panta ta dendra ‘look at the fig-tree and all the trees.’ The addition kai panta ta dendra (not in Mk. 13.28) brings out that the parable is of a general nature and that no special meaning is to be attached to the fig-tree.
Translation:
He told them a parable, or, if the common term for “parable” implies a story, preferably something like, “gave them an illustration” (An American Translation), ‘made a comparison’ (Willibrord); and cf. on 5.36.
And all the trees, preferably, “or any other tree” (New English Bible).
Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.