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Issue 64 JITL Headings and Content

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Susan Quigley 2018-12-05 15:00:24 +00:00
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### Description
Personification is a figure of speech in which someone speaks of something as if it could do things that animals or people can do. People often do this because it makes it easier to talk about things that we cannot see:
Such as wisdom:
>Does not Wisdom call out? (Proverbs 8:1 ULB)
Or sin:
>... sin crouches at the door ... (Genesis 4:7 ULB)
People also do this because it is sometimes easier to talk about people's relationships with non-human things, such as wealth, as if they were like relationships between people.
>You cannot serve God and wealth. (Matthew 6:24 ULB)
Personification is a figure of speech in which someone speaks of something as if it could do things that animals or people can do. People often do this because it makes it easier to talk about things that we cannot see, such as wisdom or sin. People also do this because it is sometimes easier to talk about people's relationships with non-human things, such as wealth, as if they were like relationships between people. (See examples from the Bible below.)
### Reasons this is a translation issue
@ -33,27 +23,40 @@ God speaks of sin as a wild animal that is waiting for the chance to attack. Thi
Jesus speaks of wealth as if it were a master whom people might serve. Loving money and basing one's decisions on it is like serving it as a slave would serve his master.
>... even the winds and the sea obey him ... (Matthew 8:27 ULB)
When Jesus calms a storm by rebuking the wind and the sea, his disciples speak of the wind and the sea as if they are able to hear and obey Jesus as people can.
### Translation Strategies
If the personification would be understood clearly, consider using it. If it would not be understood, here are some other ways for translating it.
1. Add words or phrases to make it clear.
1. Use words such as "like" or "as" to show that the sentences is not to be understood literally.
1. Add words or phrases to make it clear.
1. Find a way to translate it without the personification.
### Examples of Translation Strategies Applied
1. Add words or phrases to make it clear.
* **... <u>sin crouches</u> at the door** (Genesis 4:7 ULB) - An additional phrase can be added to make this danger clear.
* ... <u>sin</u> is at your door, <u>waiting to attack you</u>
1. Use words such as "like" or "as" to show that the sentence is not to be understood literally.
* **... sin crouches at the door and desires to control you.** (Genesis 4:7 ULB)
* ... it is <u>as if</u> sin crouches at the door and desires to control you.
1. Add words or phrases that make the image more clear.
* **... sin crouches at the door and desires to control you.** (Genesis 4:7 ULB)
* ... sin is <u>like a wild animal</u> crouching at the door, desiring to control you.
* ... sin is crouching at the door <u>in order to attack you,</u> and it desires to control you.
1. Add words or phrases to to show how something is like a person or animal.
* **... sin crouches at the door and desires to control you.** (Genesis 4:7 ULB)
* ... <u>sin</u> is dangerous, like an animal crouching at the door and desiring to control you.
1. Use words such as "like" or "as" to show that the sentences is not to be understood literally.
* **... sin crouches at the door** (Genesis 4:7 ULB) - This can be translated with the word "as."
* ... sin is crouching at the door, just <u>as a wild animal does waiting to attack a person</u>.
1. Find a way to translate it without the personification.
* **... even the <u>winds and the sea obey him</u> ...** (Matthew 8:27 ULB) - The men speak of the "wind and the sea as if they are able to hear" and obey Jesus as people can. This could also be translated without the idea of obedience by speaking of Jesus controlling them.
* He even <u>controls the winds and the sea</u>.
1. Find a way to translate it without the personification. (Genesis 4:7 ULB)
* **... sin crouches at the door and desires to control you.**
* You are in danger of sinning and not being able to stop sinning.
* **You cannot serve God and wealth.** (Matthew 6:24 ULB)
* You cannot be devoted to both God and wealth.
* You cannot serve God if you want most to have wealth.
**Note**: We have broadened our definition of "personification" to include "zoomorphism" (speaking of other things as if they had animal characteristics) and "anthropomorphism" (speaking of non-human things as if they had human characteristics.)