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Poor Translation

essamtony
edited December 1969 in Random Issues
On reading the text referenced below, I noticed that the quality of the translation and syntax is generally poor. However, there is also some wrong translations that possibly require immediate attention (for Example in reference to Christ's healing of Peter's Mother in law, it is translated as Peter's Step-Mother, a term that means that she was Peter's father's wife). This is by no means intended to be a comprehensive list in difficulties with the text, but rather a general pointer.

Pope Shenouda III series 7

THE TWO SAINTS PETER & PAUL

(ON THE FEAST'S DAY OF THE APOSTLES WHICH IS THEIR FEAST)

Comments

  • peterfarringtonpeterfarrington
    Without referring to any publications in particular I have wondered for a very long time while people who are translating into a language that is not their own do not ask for the help of people such as the British Orthodox Church, or second and third generation Egyptian emigrants who have English as their first language.

    This would greatly improve the quality of some publications and make them more universally useful.

    Father Peter
  • ilovesaintmarkilovesaintmark
    You are correct, Father.

    When the standing Committee met in th late 80's to translate the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil at Anba Bishoy Monastery in Egypt, not one person on the Committee had English as a mother tongue.  Not to mention that it was translated in less than two weeks.  If you open any page, close your eyes and flip to any page, you will find at least three mistakes.  When you read the text, and pay attention to tone, you will realize that it is inconsistent in methodology, grammar, terminology, and vocabulary.

    Example:  Eis Patir Agios, {O Theos Agios (sic)}, en Epnevma Agion. Amen.  Which translates:  One is the Holy Father, God is Holy, and One is the Holy Spirit. Amen.

    It should be:  Eis Patir Agios, Eis Eyos Agios, en Epnevma Agion. Amen.  Which translates:  One is the Holy Father, One is the Holy Son, and One is the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

    The typographical and grammatical mistake make for a heretical statement, almost akin to the Jehovah Witnesses. 

    How about that!  I believe the British Orthodox Church needs to take a greater role in leading and guiding relative to translations to the English Language.

    There are a ton more mistakes.  Even the translation that was carried out by the collaborative efforts of the Southern and California Dioceses, have a good number of mistakes.

    Fr. Peter, help the Coptics appreciate the Queen's Language.  What really irks me are some of the pronunciations, i.e., "Du" instead of pronouncing "the".
  • joegjoeg
    Translation does go on, but we need better links between the people translating and the authors of these books in Egypt. I'm a second-generation Copt and my first language is English, but I'm also fluent in Arabic, and there are many people in my position. It would be a blessing to give something back, and this is a good way to do it.

    pray for me

    joe
  • ilovesaintmarkilovesaintmark
    Just do it, and present it for argument and editing.

    I translated the Liturgy of St. Gregory when I was 17, sent to Bishop Antonius Markos in Africa, he revised it and it went into use.  I sent footnotes and explanations, and takes in the English Language.

    His Grace sent me a nice letter which I cherish.

    Just be diligent and consistent and pray for inspiration.
  • minatasgeelminatasgeel
    I personally think that the concept of communication that we lack is the reason for having a "poor translation." I know this because i DO translate many church texts into english as part of the service i do here and in church. The thing is that one can translate this paragraph and another can do so with a different interpretation.....both can be considered right in many ways but both are just not the same. at this point what is needed is that both can come together and agree on one uniformed translation for both to use. now, for me to find some copts with the egyptian mentality of just doing what the want (and freedom living in the states) despite others and force them to follow, that is RARE.

    I can prove what i said...for example: ilovesaintmark, where is that translation of the liturgy you are talking about. have you published it...i have not heard about EVER!! the first "official" translations of Saint Gregory's was in the 1st ed of the southern diocese book. so you see, it's all about communication. And don't think i am fully happy with the Southern diocese translation, especially 2nd ed, because they also lack communication....BUT, atleast they opened the circle by doing the book as a full diocese and also with another diocese (LA Cali).
  • ilovesaintmarkilovesaintmark
    Actually, it was published in Africa not in the United States.  In Kenya.  In that specter of time, there wasn't much translated.

    I was actually with your point.  I'm just hoping that people get involved, and work on things.  It is good to mobilize.  As I said to translate, present, argue (constructively, and edit.

    I was not saying for anyone to be autonomous.

    I just find that some of the mistakes are so egregious that they are upheld as 'bible truth', when in fact the syntax, grammar, and typographical errors push to outright "heresy".  I put "heresy" in quotations to identify that it is not intentional.  However, the common westerner to pick up the text, could well perceive the Coptic Church as upholding it.
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