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Issue 64 (writing-pronouns)

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Susan Quigley 2018-10-23 14:46:22 +00:00
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translate/writing-pronouns/01.md
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When we talk or write, we use pronouns to refer to people or things without always having to repeat the noun or name. Usually the first time we refer to someone in a story, we use a descriptive phrase or a name. The next time we might refer to that person with a simple noun or by name. After that we might refer to him simply with a pronoun, as long as we think that our listeners will be able to understand easily to whom the pronoun refers.
>Now there was <u>a Pharisee whose name was Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Council</u>. <u>This man</u> came to Jesus ... Jesus replied to <u>him</u> (John 3:1-3 ULB)
In John 3, Nicodemus is first referred to with noun phrases and his name. Then he is referred to with the noun phrase "this man." Then he is referred to with the pronoun "him."
Each language has its rules and exceptions to this usual way of referring to people and things.
* In some languages the first time something is referred to in a paragraph or chapter, it is referred to with a noun rather than a pronoun.
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### Examples from the Bible
The example below occurs at the beginning of a chapter. In some languages it might not be clear whom the pronouns refer to.
>Now there was <u>a Pharisee whose name was Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Council</u>. <u>This man</u> came to Jesus ... Jesus replied to <u>him</u> (John 3:1-3 ULB)
In John 3, Nicodemus is first referred to with noun phrases and his name. Then he is referred to with the noun phrase "this man." Then he is referred to with the pronoun "him."
>Then <u>he</u> spoke a parable to <u>them</u> about how <u>they</u> should always pray and not become discouraged. (Luke 18:1 ULB)
In the example below, two men are named in the first two sentences and the beginning of the third. It might not be clear whom "him," "his," and "he" in the third sentence refer to.
The example above occurs at the beginning of a chapter. In some languages it might not be clear whom the pronouns refer to.
>The <u>prison warden</u> gave into <u>Joseph</u>'s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, <u>Joseph</u> was in charge of it. The <u>prison warden</u> did not worry about anything that was in <u>his</u> hand, because Yahweh was with <u>him</u>. Whatever <u>he</u> did, Yahweh prospered. (Genesis 39:22-23 ULB)
Jesus is the main character of the book of Matthew, but in the verses below he is referred to four times by name. This may lead speakers of some languages to think that Jesus is not the main character. Or it might lead them to think that there is more than one person named Jesus in this story. Or it might lead them to think that there is some kind of emphasis on him, even though there is no emphasis.
In the example above, two men are named in the first two sentences and the beginning of the third. It might not be clear whom "him," "his," and "he" in the third sentence refer to.
>At that time <u>Jesus</u> went on the Sabbath day through the grainfields. <u>His</u> disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and eat them. But when the Pharisees saw that, they said to <u>Jesus</u>, "See, your disciples do what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath."
>But <u>Jesus</u> said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was hungry, and the men who were with him? ..."
>Then <u>Jesus</u> left from there and went into their synagogue. (Matthew 12:1-9 ULB)
Jesus is the main character of the book of Matthew, but in the verses above he is referred to four times by name. This may lead speakers of some languages to think that Jesus is not the main character. Or it might lead them to think that there is more than one person named Jesus in this story. Or it might lead them to think that there is some kind of emphasis on him, even though there is no emphasis.
### Translation Strategies
1. If it would not be clear to your readers whom or what a pronoun refers to, use a noun or name.