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Teaching the History of Religion
The Problems of Translation
The problems of studying history or religions by using writing sources are
that translation is difficult. Here is some reasons why:
1. Some sources come from oral tradition. For example, the stories of the
Torah (Jewish holy book), Bible, and Koran (any holy book) were told
around campfires at night. These stories had to be memorized, and it was
often easier is they were sing-songy or poetry. This is an example of a
story that was memorized for oral tradition:
“The human knew Havva his wife,
she became pregnant and bore Kayin She said:
Kaniti/I have gottena man, as has YHWH!
She continued bearing – his brother, Hevel.
Now Hevel became a shepherd of flocks, and Kayin
became a worker of the soil.”
**
Who is this that the story is talking about? It is known to the
modern English readers as the story of Eve, who gave birth to Cain and
Abel. **This is from Kenneth Davis’ book Don’t Know Much About the
Bible.
2. There have been 3000 translations of the Bible alone. As more and more
facts are uncovered, the meanings of the words often change. Today we
have language conversion computers that help, and many translations
were made with little or no resources. Many writings are from dead
languages, or languages that have not been spoken in many years.
3. What you are about to read shows you why translation is so difficult.
Mgn rdng ths bk wtht vwls. Sn’t tht dffclt t cmprhd? Myb ftr whl y
cld fll n sm fr th blnks nd fgr t mst f t. Ftr ll, ts smpl nglsh. Bt nw, mgn
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ts prt f n ncnt lngg tht hs flln nt dss vr svrl cntrs. Tht s hw th Bbl nc
pprd.
Now this is how it looks with the vowels:
Imagine reading this book without vowels. Isn’t that difficult to comprehend?
Maybe after a while you could fill in some of the blanks and figure out
most of it. After all, it’s simple English. But now, imagine it’s part of
an ancient language that has fallen into disuse over several centuries.
That is how the Bible once appeared.
Most Middle Eastern languages such as Hebrew, Arabic, and
Aramaic (especially in their ancient form) are written without vowels.
Many versions of the languages have changed so much that they are no
longer spoken or written as they were in texts. They are read from right to left,
and many of the manuscripts are crumbling and need to be put together like a
million piece puzzle.
Why Archaeologist Have Problems- Translating into English Language of 2000 AD
Word Look- A- likes- Read the following:
1. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
2.
A farm can produce produce.
3. The dove dove into the bushes.
4. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
5. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
6. When is a door not a door? When it is ajar.
Some English Questions
1. Why do we drive on a parkway, and park on a driveway?
2. Why is it called lipstick if you can still move your lips?
3. Why is the third hand on a watch called a second hand?
4. Could pilots take “crash courses”?
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5. If peanut butter cookies are made with peanut butter, then what are Girl Scout
cookies made out of?
Strange Customs:
1. Why do signs that say “Slow Children” have a picture of running children?
2. Why is a Braille sign at drive through ATM machines?
3. Why do drug stores make sick walk to the back of the store, and put cigarettes
at the front?
4. Why do people order double cheeseburgers, fries, and a diet coke?
5. Why is there handicap parking at skating rinks?
Do Not Forget:
1. Early translators, researchers had very few resources.
2. Early translators, researchers did not have
standardized spelling.
3.
Many pieces are missing so we are often getting part
of the story.
4.
In 391 AD, the Roman Emperor, a newly converted
Christian, ordered any non-Christian books burned. At
the Alexandria Egypt library alone, it is estimated that
over 100,000 volumes were torched.