My research addresses the function of the much-debated particle -nā in Biblical Hebrew, often translated with “please”, from the point of view of the most important ancient Bible translations ... Show moreMy research addresses the function of the much-debated particle -nā in Biblical Hebrew, often translated with “please”, from the point of view of the most important ancient Bible translations (Greek, Syriac, Latin). It combines textual criticism, translation technique, discourse pragmatics, and the study of politeness in language. The bewildering amount of variation in the rendering of this particle in the ancient versions can be explained as the result of a conscious choice by the translator or as a reflex of a different Hebrew original. After a survey of previous research, a systematic and comprehensive investigation of the evidence shows that the pragmatic function of this particle is strongly conditioned by the context and cannot be explained by a unified denominator. Its primary function appears to be emphasis, hence it sensitizes the addressee/reader. Cases of schematic translation can indicate with relative certainty where -nā was present or not in the Hebrew original of a given translation. By and large, the following tendencies can be observed: the Greek often has dē as the most obvious translation equivalent, the Syriac only translates it occasionally, and the Latin connects it most directly with politeness by a Latin expression for request (generally obsecro or quaeso). Show less
In this study, the plant metaphors of the Septuagint of Isaiah are analyzed in order to gain further insight into the translation technique of this unique book. This study suggests that the... Show moreIn this study, the plant metaphors of the Septuagint of Isaiah are analyzed in order to gain further insight into the translation technique of this unique book. This study suggests that the translator had some concern for Greek style in his use of metaphors, but interpreted primarily as a Jewish scribe.Chapter two examines metaphors with terminology from the various parts of plants, and LXX-Isa’s translations are compared with the Targum’s renderings. In general, this chapter demonstrates how the LXX-Isa translator did not follow the example of other LXX translators, yet carefully renders each verse in its context. Chapter three examines metaphors using terms for different kinds of plants, and LXX-Isa’s translations are compared with the Targum’s renderings. In this chapter, while many metaphors are rendered literally, in many cases the translator adjusts the language of metaphors to communicate clearly what he believes the image means.The concluding chapter categorizes all the metaphors examined in this study by their translation strategy. LXX-Isa’s rendering of metaphors is next compared to the Targum of Isaiah. Finally, evidence is given for the translator using some of his Hellenistic rhetorical training concerning metaphors to improve the style of his translation Show less
De Septuaginta van Jesaja (LXX Jesaja) wordt evenals LXX Job en LXX Spreuken gekenmerkt door grote en somtijds opmerkelijke verschillen met de Hebreeuwse (Masoretische) tekst van het desbetreffende... Show moreDe Septuaginta van Jesaja (LXX Jesaja) wordt evenals LXX Job en LXX Spreuken gekenmerkt door grote en somtijds opmerkelijke verschillen met de Hebreeuwse (Masoretische) tekst van het desbetreffende boek. Deze studie wil een methodische bijdrage leveren tot de analyse van deze verschillen. Voortbouwend op het werk van Ziegler en anderen beoogt het proefschrift aan te tonen dat de vertaler kennelijk een specifieke interpretatie van een gedeelte als Jes 24:1 __ 26:6 in zijn hoofd had alvorens hij zijn vertaling aan papier (papyrus) toevertrouwde. Vandaar de titel: __LXX Isaiah 24:1 __ 26:6 as Interpretation and Translation.__ Show less
This study seeks to provide more insight into the Septuagint of Isaiah (LXX Isaiah) by analysing all the cases of pluses and minuses in that translation. In this way it sets out to contribute to... Show moreThis study seeks to provide more insight into the Septuagint of Isaiah (LXX Isaiah) by analysing all the cases of pluses and minuses in that translation. In this way it sets out to contribute to and to complement the discussion of pluses and minuses in LXX Isaiah which was presented by Joseph Ziegler in his work Untersuchungen zur Septuaginta des Buches Isaias (1934). All LXX Isaiah’s pluses and minuses have been collected and classified in this study, and then analysed to understand the motivation for them. Do they betray certain translation tendencies of the translator, or do they indicate that the Greek translator had a Vorlage in front of him which differed from the Masoretic text? One of the conclusions is that many pluses and minuses in the translation seem to be connected with certain literary, stylistic preferences of the translator. Hardly any previous investigations have been made into this stylistic or rhetorical aspect of the Greek translation of Isaiah. Show less
This is the first study that connects Septuagint research, mainly the domain of theologians, to insights from Translation Studies. Of the different approaches in TS I consider especially historical... Show moreThis is the first study that connects Septuagint research, mainly the domain of theologians, to insights from Translation Studies. Of the different approaches in TS I consider especially historical TS and the linguistic (or early) TS relevant for the study of the Septuagint. From a survey of views of language and translation in Antiquity it appears that the same differences of opinion existed among Greeks, Romans, Jews and Egyptians. The 'frontlines' between views of language and translation by no means coincided with religious borders. That there would exist 'a Jewish view of translation' prescribing literalness, as is commonly believed, is evidently mistaken. This myth in fact harks back to the anti-Jewish propaganda by the church father Jerome (Hieronymus). Many 'modern' insights in language and translation were common knowledge in Antiquity, albeit less systematic and in a different terminological garb. The chapters 4-6 consist of an analysis of the transformations (or 'shifts', changes in form or content that necessarily or intentionally occur in the process of translation). I analyzed the LXX translations of Genesis 2, Isaiah 1 and Proverbs 6. Before ascribing 'deviations' to the translator's ideology or to a different Hebrew Vorlage, one should of course first exclude the possibility that the deviation arose from translational factors. Every transformation has a cause, and by categorizing the rationales behind the transformations we can trace the translational hierarchy that guided the translator(s), consciously or unconsciously. The conclusions show that both Septuagint Studies and Translation Studies greatly profit from this cross-fertilization. Show less
