en_tm/translate/writing-symlanguage/01.md



### Description

Symbolic language in speech and writing is the use of symbols to represent other things and events. In the Bible it occurs most in prophecy and poetry, especially in visions and dreams about things that will happen in the future. Though people may not immediately know the meaning of a symbol, it is important to keep the symbol in the translation.

#### Purposes of symbolism

- One purpose of symbolism is to help people understand the importance or severity of an event by putting it in other, very dramatic terms.
- Another purpose of symbolism is to tell some people about something while hiding the true meaning from others who do not understand the symbolism.

### Reasons this is a translation issue

People who read the Bible today may find it hard to recognize that the language is symbolic, and they may not know what the symbol stands for.

### Translation principles

- When symbolic language is used, it is important to keep the symbol in the translation.
- It is also important not to explain the symbol more than the original speaker or writer did, since he may not have wanted everyone living then to be able to understand it easily.

### Examples from the Bible

>Eat this scroll, then go speak to the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 3:1 ULB)

Ezekiel had a dream, and in his dream he was told to eat a scroll. Eating the scroll is a symbol of reading and understanding well what was written on the scroll, and accepting the words from God into himself.

>After this I saw in the visions of the night <u>a fourth animal</u>, terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had <u>large iron teeth</u>; it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had <u>ten horns</u>. (Daniel 7:7 ULB)

The meaning of the underlined symbols is explained in Daniel 7:23-24 as shown below. The animals represent kingdoms, iron teeth represent a powerful army, and the horns represent powerful leaders.

>This is what that person said, 'As for the fourth animal, it will be <u>a fourth kingdom</u> on earth that will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, and it will trample it down and break it into pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom <u>ten kings</u> will arise, and another will arise after them. He will be different from the previous ones, and he will conquer the three kings. (Daniel 7:23-24 ULB)

>I turned around to see whose voice was speaking to me, and as I turned I saw <u>seven golden lampstands</u>. In the middle of the lampstands there was one like a Son of Man.... He had <u>seven stars</u> in his right hand, and <u>a sword with two sharp edges</u> was coming out of his mouth.... As for the hidden meaning about the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: <u>The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches</u>, and <u>the seven lampstands are the seven churches</u>. (Revelation 1:12, 16, 20 ULB) 

This passage explains the meaning of the seven lampstands and the seven stars. The two-edged sword represents God's word and judgment.

### Translation Strategies

1. Translate the text with the symbols. Often the speaker or author explains the meaning later in the passage.
2. Translate the text with the symbols. Then explain the symbols in footnotes.

### Examples of Translation Strategies Applied

1. Translate the text with the symbols. Often the speaker or author explains the meaning later in the passage.

 * **After this I saw in the visions of night <u>a fourth animal</u>, terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had <u>large iron teeth</u>; it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had <u>ten horns</u>.** (Daniel 7:7 ULB)<br/><br/>People will be able to understand what the symbols mean when they read the explanation in Daniel 7:23-24:
 
    * As for the fourth animal ... It will devour ... As for the ten horns ...

2. Translate the text with the symbols. Then explain the symbols in footnotes.

  * **After this I saw the visions of night <u>a fourth animal</u>, terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had <u>large iron teeth</u>; it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had <u>ten horns</u>.** (Daniel 7:7 ULB)
    * After this I saw the visions of at night a fourth animal,<sup>[1]</sup> terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had large iron teeth;<sup>[2]</sup> it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had ten horns.<sup>[3]</sup><br/><br/>
    <sup>[1]</sup> The animal is a symbol for a kingdom.  
    <sup>[2]</sup> The iron teeth is a symbol for the kingdom's powerful army.  
    <sup>[3]</sup> The horns are a symbol of powerful kings.
combined tA into RCs 2017-04-14 23:13:59 +00:00

			`### Description`

			`Symbolic language in speech and writing is the use of symbols to represent other things and events. In the Bible it occurs most in prophecy and poetry, especially in visions and dreams about things that will happen in the future. Though people may not immediately know the meaning of a symbol, it is important to keep the symbol in the translation.`

			`#### Purposes of symbolism`

Removed trailing whitespace at end of lines 2017-11-29 21:40:43 +00:00			`- One purpose of symbolism is to help people understand the importance or severity of an event by putting it in other, very dramatic terms.`
combined tA into RCs 2017-04-14 23:13:59 +00:00			`- Another purpose of symbolism is to tell some people about something while hiding the true meaning from others who do not understand the symbolism.`

Standardized heading 2018-10-22 15:07:48 +00:00			`### Reasons this is a translation issue`
Fixes for blank lines around headers 2017-11-30 14:38:09 +00:00
combined tA into RCs 2017-04-14 23:13:59 +00:00			`People who read the Bible today may find it hard to recognize that the language is symbolic, and they may not know what the symbol stands for.`

Standardized heading 2018-10-22 16:22:11 +00:00			`### Translation principles`
Standardized indentation of all bullets 2017-06-27 05:36:26 +00:00
Removed trailing whitespace at end of lines 2017-11-29 21:40:43 +00:00			`- When symbolic language is used, it is important to keep the symbol in the translation.`
combined tA into RCs 2017-04-14 23:13:59 +00:00			`- It is also important not to explain the symbol more than the original speaker or writer did, since he may not have wanted everyone living then to be able to understand it easily.`

			`### Examples from the Bible`

Issue 64 JITL Headings and Content 2018-12-04 22:06:38 +00:00			`>Eat this scroll, then go speak to the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 3:1 ULB)`

			`Ezekiel had a dream, and in his dream he was told to eat a scroll. Eating the scroll is a symbol of reading and understanding well what was written on the scroll, and accepting the words from God into himself.`

updated scripture 2018-10-03 16:02:15 +00:00			`>After this I saw in the visions of the night <u>a fourth animal</u>, terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had <u>large iron teeth</u>; it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had <u>ten horns</u>. (Daniel 7:7 ULB)`
combined tA into RCs 2017-04-14 23:13:59 +00:00
			`The meaning of the underlined symbols is explained in Daniel 7:23-24 as shown below. The animals represent kingdoms, iron teeth represent a powerful army, and the horns represent powerful leaders.`

Deleted spurious spaces. 2018-10-10 20:24:40 +00:00			`>This is what that person said, 'As for the fourth animal, it will be <u>a fourth kingdom</u> on earth that will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, and it will trample it down and break it into pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom <u>ten kings</u> will arise, and another will arise after them. He will be different from the previous ones, and he will conquer the three kings. (Daniel 7:23-24 ULB)`
combined tA into RCs 2017-04-14 23:13:59 +00:00
updated scripture 2018-10-03 16:02:15 +00:00			>I turned around to see whose voice was speaking to me, and as I turned I saw <u>seven golden lampstands</u>. In the middle of the lampstands there was one like a Son of Man.... He had <u>seven stars</u> in his right hand, and <u>a sword with two sharp edges</u> was coming out of his mouth.... As for the hidden meaning about the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: <u>The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches</u>, and <u>the seven lampstands are the seven churches</u>. (Revelation 1:12, 16, 20 ULB)
combined tA into RCs 2017-04-14 23:13:59 +00:00
			`This passage explains the meaning of the seven lampstands and the seven stars. The two-edged sword represents God's word and judgment.`

			`### Translation Strategies`

Standardized indentation of all bullets 2017-06-27 05:36:26 +00:00			`1. Translate the text with the symbols. Often the speaker or author explains the meaning later in the passage.`
updated scripture 2018-10-03 16:02:15 +00:00			`2. Translate the text with the symbols. Then explain the symbols in footnotes.`
combined tA into RCs 2017-04-14 23:13:59 +00:00
			`### Examples of Translation Strategies Applied`

			`1. Translate the text with the symbols. Often the speaker or author explains the meaning later in the passage.`

Second attempt to fix wrongly deleted spurious spaces, cont'd 2018-10-13 13:26:47 +00:00			`* After this I saw in the visions of night <u>a fourth animal</u>, terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had <u>large iron teeth</u>; it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had <u>ten horns</u>. (Daniel 7:7 ULB)<br/><br/>People will be able to understand what the symbols mean when they read the explanation in Daniel 7:23-24:`
Deleted spurious spaces. 2018-10-10 20:24:40 +00:00
Second attempt to fix wrongly deleted spurious spaces, cont'd 2018-10-13 13:26:47 +00:00			`* As for the fourth animal ... It will devour ... As for the ten horns ...`
updated scripture 2018-10-03 16:02:15 +00:00
			`2. Translate the text with the symbols. Then explain the symbols in footnotes.`

			`* After this I saw the visions of night <u>a fourth animal</u>, terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had <u>large iron teeth</u>; it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had <u>ten horns</u>. (Daniel 7:7 ULB)`
Second attempt to fix wrongly deleted spurious spaces, cont'd 2018-10-13 13:26:47 +00:00			`* After this I saw the visions of at night a fourth animal,<sup>[1]</sup> terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had large iron teeth;<sup>[2]</sup> it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had ten horns.<sup>[3]</sup><br/><br/>`
			`<sup>[1]</sup> The animal is a symbol for a kingdom.`
			`<sup>[2]</sup> The iron teeth is a symbol for the kingdom's powerful army.`
			`<sup>[3]</sup> The horns are a symbol of powerful kings.`
Standardized indentation of all bullets 2017-06-27 05:36:26 +00:00