In Kuy culture, snakes are eaten, so here the Kuy translation says the equivalent of “a yellow snake” as these are taboo (source: David Clark). For the same reason, the term used in Barasana-Eduria is “eel” since eels are detested among the speakers (source: Larry Clark in Holzhausen 1991, p. 45).
See also serpent.
During the translation of the New Testament into Huixtán Tzotzil, translation consultant Marion Cowan found that questions where the answer is obvious, affirmative rhetorical questions, as well questions raising objections tended to cause confusion among the readers. So these are rendered as simple or emphatic statements.
Accordingly, Matthew 7:9-11 reads “If your son asks you for a tortilla to eat, not a stone you would give him. If he asks you for fish to eat, not a snake you would give him. You whose hearts are not good, know what good gifts you will give your children. Your father in heaven surpassingly knows what good gifts he will give to those who ask him.”
Source: Marion Cowan in The Bible Translator 1960, p. 123ff.
Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 7:10:
- Uma: “Or give him a snake when he asks for meat/fish? Of course not.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Or if he asks for a fish will you give him a snake?” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And if he asks you for a fish, it also cannot be that a snake is what you give.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Or if he asks for dried-fish, will you do-you-suppose give-him a snake?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Or if it’s fish he’s asking for, what will you give, a snake?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Or if the child asks for fish, he isn’t given a snake.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)