Manual for Problem Solving in Bible Translation

This manual has been designed to give practice in solving the various problems which the Bible translator faces. Through drill and practice, the student will develop skill in applying the principles of translation which he has learned in Translating the Word of God by John Beekman and John Callow and Discourse Considerations in Translating the Word of God by Kathleen Callow.

Table of Contents

[Please note, because of limited space many subsections are not displayed below.]

1. Idiomatic Versus Literal Translation

2. Fidelity In Translation

3. Implicit And Explicit Information

4. Analyzing The Components Of Meaning In A Word, Part 1

A. Identifying the semantic class of a word
B. Matching semantic and grammatical classes
C. Identifying the meaning components of a word
D. Identifying generic-specific changes
E. Using a more generic word
F. Using a more specific word
G. Identifying the pronominal referent
H. Identifying the meaning components of some key words

5. Analyzing Components Of Meaning In A Word, Part 2

Sections
5.1. Analyzing the components of meaning of words: Spirit, Flesh, Glory
5.2. The components of meaning of pronouns: Inclusive-exclusive, Number, Honorifics
5.3. The components of meaning in kinship terms: Son, Daughter, Brother, Older brother and younger brother,An example from Aguaruna, Siblings
5.4. Obligatory possession
5.5. The components of meaning in tense and aspect markers: Tense, Aspect, Dead suffix in Amuesha

6. The Nature Of Multiple Senses

7. Translating Multiple Senses

Sections
7.1. Extended use of pronouns
7.2. Figurative senses and symbolic actions: Metonymy, Synecdoche, Hyperbole, Euphemism, Source-language idioms, Symbolic actions

8. The Nature Of Metaphor And Simile

9. Translating Metaphors And Similes

10. Concordance And Meanings In Context

11. Collocational Clash

12. Lexical Equivalence Across Languages--When Concepts Are Shared

13. Lexical Equivalence Across Languages--When Things Or Events Are Unknown

14. Multiple Functions Of Grammatical Structures

Sections
14.1. Passive-active
14.2. Abstract nouns
14.3. Participles
14.4. Attributives
14.5. Objectivization and Personification
14.6. Chronological order
14.7. Negatives
14.8. Review

15. Rhetorical Questions

16. Genitive Constructions

Sections
16.1. Restating genitive constructions
16.2. Classifying genitive constructions
16.3. Review

17. Propositions And Semantic Structures

Sections
17.1. Analyzing the surface structure
17.2. Practice in writing propositions

18. Relations Between Propositions

19. Larger Semantic Units

20. Analyzing And Displaying The Propositions Within A Paragraph

21. The Organization Of Discourse

Sections
21.1. Discourse types and factors differentiating them
21.2. Sentence length
21.3. Involvement of the narrator
21.4. Vocatives
21.5. Quotations within discourse

22. Grouping

23. Cohesion

24. Prominence

25. Information Load