diff --git a/translate/figs-metaphor/01.md b/translate/figs-metaphor/01.md index 8be8e0a..4f767e8 100644 --- a/translate/figs-metaphor/01.md +++ b/translate/figs-metaphor/01.md @@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ In this metaphor, Jesus called himself the bread of life. The **topic** is "I," * People may not recognize that something is a metaphor. In other words, they may mistake a metaphor for a literal statement, and thus misunderstand it. * People may not be familiar with the thing that is used as an image, and so not be able to understand the metaphor. * If the topic is not stated, people may not know what the topic is. -* People may not know the points of comparison that the speaker is thinking of and wants them to understand. If they fail to think of these points of comparison, they will not understand the metaphor. +* People may not know the points of comparison that the speaker wants them to understand. If they fail to think of these points of comparison, they will not understand the metaphor. +* People may think that they understand the metaphor, but they do not. This can happen when they apply points of comparison from their own culture, rather than from the biblical culture. #### Translation Principles @@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ Note, also, that Amos does not actually mean that the women are cows. He speaks >And yet, Yahweh, you are our father; we are the clay. You are our potter; and we all are the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8 ULB) -The example above has two related metaphors. The topics are "we" and "you," and the images are "clay and "potter." The intended point of comparison between a potter and God is the fact that both make what they wish: the potter makes what he wishes out of the clay, and God makes what he wishes out of his people Israel. The point of comparison between the potter's clay and "us" is that both the clay and the people of Israel are made into something different from what they were before. +The example above has two related metaphors. The topics are "we" and "you," and the images are "clay and "potter." The intended point of comparison between a potter and God is the fact that both make what they wish out of their material: the potter makes what he wishes out of the clay, and God makes what he wishes out of his people. The point of comparison between the potter's clay and "us" is that neither the clay nor God's people have a right to complain about what they are becoming. >Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." The disciples reasoned among themselves and said, "It is because we took no bread." (Matthew 16:6-7 ULB) @@ -108,28 +109,28 @@ Jesus used a metaphor here, but his disciples did not realize it. When he said " ### Translation Strategies -If people would understand the metaphor in the same way that the original readers probably understood it, go ahead and use it. Be sure to test the translation to make sure that people do understand it. +If people would understand the metaphor in the same way that the original readers would have understood it, go ahead and use it. Be sure to test the translation to make sure that people do understand it in the right way. If people do not or would not understand it, here are some other strategies. -1. If the metaphor is a common expression of a patterned pair of concepts in a biblical language, express the main idea in the simplest way preferred by your language. (See [Biblical Imagery - Common Patterns](../bita-part1/01.md) for lists of some of these patterned pairs of concepts.) -1. If the metaphor seems to be a "live" metaphor, you can translate it literally if you think that the target language also uses this metaphor. If you do this, be sure to test it to make sure that the language community understands it correctly. +1. If the metaphor is a common expression in the source language or expresses a patterned pair of concepts in a biblical language (a "dead" metaphor), then express the main idea in the simplest way preferred by your language. +1. If the metaphor seems to be a "live" metaphor, you can translate it literally if you think that the target language also uses this metaphor in the same way to mean the same thing as in the Bible. If you do this, be sure to test it to make sure that the language community understands it correctly. 1. If the target audience does not realize that it is a metaphor, then change the metaphor to a simile. Some languages do this by adding words such as "like" or "as." See [Simile](../figs-simile/01.md). -1. If the target audience would not know the image, see [Translate Unknowns](../translate-unknown/01.md) for ideas on how to translate that image. -1. If the target audience would not use that image for that meaning, use an image from your own culture instead. Be sure that it is an image that could have been possible in Bible times. -1. If the target audience would not know what the topic is, then state the topic clearly. (However, do not do this if the original audience did not know what the topic was.) -1. If the target audience will not know the intended points of comparison between the image and topic, then state them clearly. +1. If the target audience would not know the **image**, see [Translate Unknowns](../translate-unknown/01.md) for ideas on how to translate that image. +1. If the target audience would not use that **image** for that meaning, use an image from your own culture instead. Be sure that it is an image that could have been possible in Bible times. +1. If the target audience would not know what the **topic** is, then state the topic clearly. (However, do not do this if the original audience did not know what the topic was.) +1. If the target audience would not know the intended **point of comparison** between the topic and the image, then state it clearly. 1. If none of these strategies is satisfactory, then simply state the idea plainly without using a metaphor. ### Examples of Translation Strategies Applied -1. If the metaphor is a common expression of a patterned pair of concepts in a biblical language, express the main idea in the simplest way preferred by your language. +1. If the metaphor is a common expression in the source language or expresses a patterned pair of concepts in a biblical language (a "dead" metaphor), then express the main idea in the simplest way preferred by your language. * **Then one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came, and when he saw him, fell at his feet.** (Mark 5:22 ULB) * Then one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came, and when he saw him, immediately bowed down in front of him. -1. If the metaphor seems to be a "live" metaphor, you can translate it literally if you think that the target language also uses this metaphor. If you do this, be sure to test it to make sure that the language community understands it correctly. +1. If the metaphor seems to be a "live" metaphor, you can translate it literally if you think that the target language also uses this metaphor in the same way to mean the same thing as in the Bible. If you do this, be sure to test it to make sure that the language community understands it correctly. * **It was because of your hard hearts that he wrote you this law,** (Mark 10:5 ULB) * It was because of your hard hearts that he wrote you this law, @@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ There is no change to this one - but it must be tested to make sure that the tar * **Yahweh lives; may my rock be praised. May the God of my salvation be exalted.** (Psalm 18:46 ULB) * Yahweh lives; He is my rock. May he be praised. May the God of my salvation be exalted. -1. If the target audience will not know the intended points of comparison between the image and the topic, then state them clearly. +1. If the target audience would not know the intended **point of comparison** between the topic and the image, then state it clearly. * **Yahweh lives; may my rock be praised. May the God of my salvation be exalted.** (Psalm 18:46 ULB) * Yahweh lives; may he be praised because he is the rock under which I can hide from my enemies. May the God of my salvation be exalted.