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Re: [romconlang] Translation question



On Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 8:02 PM, Padraic Brown <elemtilas@hidden.email> wrote:

>
>
>  --- On Tue, 11/30/10, Adam Walker <carraxan@hidden.email<carraxan%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> > Today while shipping out orders at work, I got to thinking about how to
> > translate the first clause of John 1:14 into Carrajina. I came up with
> > two (very similar) options, but can't decide which one is "right."
>
> > Nivapud dil carni ul Vervu.
> > was.made to/at.the flesh the word
>
> > Nivapud nil carni ul Vervu.
> > was.made in.the flesh the word
>
> > What think you?
>
> I guess in some respects it depends on a couple factors: first is
> what language the C translator was working from and then what his or her
> translating perspective was (i.e., literal / form for form or "idea
> translation") a third is what was the sponsor's agenda (i.e., is
> this a verse that in some way impinges on the local church's theology
> etc.)
>
>
I prefer my translations of Scripture on the literal side, but allowances
must be made for grammar. I originally strated with the idea the the
Donatist C-an translators worked from the Vetus text, but I can't find
whatever fragments of that may still exist.  The Vulgate is too new for
Donatist use, but I make frequent reference to it when doing C-an
translations of Bible verses. The Greek texts of the NT and the LXX are also
references, but I usually look at every Romance translation I can lay hands
on, the Vulgate, the Greek and/or Hebrew and several English translations
before I make my translations.  So nothing I wrote in my original email is
set in stone, as yet.


>   I suppose, we might also find out what *your* biases and agendas are! ;)
>
>
that's always possible, but I try to keep my biases out so the translation
reflects the text as accurately as possible.


>   Looking at the Latin, I see "et verbum caro factum est" and in Greek,
> "kai o logos sarx egeneto". The Greek verb is 3s aorist middle indicative;
> the Latin is 3s perfect passive indicative.
>
> The usual English is "and the word became flesh" -- not actively made
> into flesh by someone (though I think that is a valid translation of
> "factum est") nor passively submitting to a process, but sort of middle
> voicedly acting on behalf of itself in its enfleshment. As I understand
> the Greek, it largely comes out the same.
>
> My question would be why do you have "to/at" or "in" in there? What is the
> purpose of adding those ideas?
>

C-a has developed a liking for turning objects such as *flesh* in "The Word
was made flesh," into prepositional phrases more like "The Word was made *
into* flesh."


>   Can you say "Nivapud il carni ul Vervu"?
> If not, why not?
>
>
That is how I would have done it a couple of years ago, but it seems just
plain wrong.  It would seem to make ul Veru an agent subject, which, of
course, a passive verb does not have.


>   How does nivapud compare with factum est or egeneto?
>


It is practically equal to factum est. It breaks down as ni- + facheri +
-ud.  It is the past passive of to make. The *p* is the natural result of *
ct* when followed by any vowel but *e* or *i*.  The *f* voices in the
environment between vowels.  *Ni-* is the passivizing prefix. Third person
singular past is marked with *-ud.*
**

>   Not so sure about
> the Greek, but fieri is a pretty interesting verb all on its own, being
> the passive of facere but having abviously active forms (fio/fis/fit as
> opposed to *facior/*faceris/*facetur). I guess a kind of "anti-deponent"
> verb.
>

I am unsure whether fieri survives in C-a.


>   > Adam
>
> Padraic
>
>
I'm really glad to hear form you again.  I haven't seen you post in ages!

Adam


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