diff --git a/translate/writing-background/01.md b/translate/writing-background/01.md index b81c1d9..b3d27ec 100644 --- a/translate/writing-background/01.md +++ b/translate/writing-background/01.md @@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ Background information can also be marked with words that tell the reader that t ### Examples from the Bible ->Hagar gave birth to Abram's son, and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:16 ULB) +>Hagar gave birth to Abram's son, and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:15-16 ULB) The first sentence tells about two events. Hagar gave birth and Abraham named his son. The second sentence is background information about how old Abram was when those things happened. ->Now Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli. (Luke 3:23 ULB) +>Now Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli. (Luke 3:23) The verses before this tell about when Jesus was baptized. This sentence introduces background information about Jesus' age and ancestors. The story starts up again in chapter 4 where it tells about Jesus going to the wilderness. @@ -55,11 +55,11 @@ To keep translations clear and natural you will need to study how people tell st ### Examples of Translation Strategies Applied -1. Use your language's way of showing that certain information is background information. The examples below explain how this was done in the ULB English translations. +1. Use your language's way of showing that certain information is background information. The examples below explain how this has been done in English translations. -* **Now Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli.** (Luke 3:23 ULB) English uses the word "now" to show that there is some kind of change in the story. The verb "was" shows that it is background information. +* **Now Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli.** (Luke 3:23) English uses the word "now" to show that there is some kind of change in the story. The verb "was" shows that it is background information. -* **With many other exhortations also, he preached good news to the people. John also rebuked Herod the tetrarch for marrying his brother's wife, Herodias, and for all the other evil things that Herod had done. But then Herod did another very evil thing. He had John locked up in prison.** (Luke 3:18-20 ULB) The underlined phrases happened before John rebuked Herod. In English, the helping verb "had" in "had done" shows that Herod did those things before John rebuked him. +* **With many other exhortations also, he preached good news to the people. John also rebuked Herod the tetrarch for marrying his brother's wife, Herodias, and for all the other evil things that Herod had done. But then Herod did another very evil thing. He had John locked up in prison.** (Luke 3:18-20) The underlined phrases happened before John rebuked Herod. In English, the helping verb "had" in "had done" shows that Herod did those things before John rebuked him. 1. Reorder the information so that earlier events are mentioned first. diff --git a/translate/writing-connectingwords/01.md b/translate/writing-connectingwords/01.md index ae5572a..bfa2535 100644 --- a/translate/writing-connectingwords/01.md +++ b/translate/writing-connectingwords/01.md @@ -24,15 +24,15 @@ Sometimes people might not use a connecting word because they expect the readers ### Examples from the Bible ->I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me, but instead I went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. (Galatians 1:16-18 ULB) +>I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me, but instead I went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. (Galatians 1:16-18) The word "but" introduces something that contrasts with what was said before. The contrast here is between what Paul did not do with what he did do. Here the word "then" introduces something Paul did after he returned to Damascus. ->Therefore whoever breaks the least one of these commandments and teaches others to do so, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19 ULB) +>Therefore whoever breaks the least one of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19 ULB) The word "Therefore" links this section with the section before it, signalling that the section that came before gave the reason for this section. "Therefore" usually links sections larger than one sentence. The word "and" links only two actions within the same sentence, that of breaking commandments and teaching others. In this verse the word "But" contrasts what one group of people will be called in God's kingdom with what another group of people will be called. ->We do not place a stumbling block in front of anyone, for we do not wish our ministry to be brought into disrepute. Instead, we prove ourselves by all our actions, that we are God's servants. (2 Corinthians 6:3-4 ULB) +>We do not place a stumbling block in front of anyone, for we do not wish our ministry to be discredited. Instead, we prove ourselves by all our actions, that we are God's servants. (2 Corinthians 6:3-4 ULB) Here the word "for" connects what follows as the reason for what came before; the reason that Paul does not place stumbling blocks is that he does not want his ministry brought into disrepute. "Instead" contrasts what Paul does (proving by his actions that he is God's servant) with what he said he does not do (placing stumbling blocks). @@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ If the way the relationship between thoughts is shown in the ULB would be natura 1. Use a connecting word (even if the ULB does not use one). -* **Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Immediately they left the nets and went after him.** (Mark 1:17-18 ULB) - They followed Jesus because he told them to. Some translators may want to mark this with "so." +* **Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Immediately they left the nets and went after him.** (Mark 1:17-18) - They followed Jesus because he told them to. Some translators may want to mark this with "so." * Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you become fishers of men." So immediately they left the nets and went after him. 1. Do not use a connecting word if it would be odd to use one and people would understand the right relationship between the thoughts without it. -* **Therefore whoever breaks the least one of these commandments and teaches others to do so, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.** (Matthew 5:19 ULB) - +* **Therefore whoever breaks the least one of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.** (Matthew 5:19 ULB) - Some languages would prefer not to use connecting words here, because the meaning is clear without them and using them would be unnatural. They might translate like this: @@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ Some languages would prefer not to use connecting words here, because the meanin Some languages might not need the words "but" or "then" here. -* I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me. Instead I went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. After three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. +* I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me. Instead, I went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. After three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 1. Use a different connecting word.