Re: Translating and Inclusive Language
Mark Goodacre (goodacms@m4-arts.bham.ac.uk)
Thu, 4 Sep 1997 10:44:12 GMT
A small comment. The enormous problem is of course the lack of an
inclusive word in English to render him / her etc. Prof. Bruce
Metzger mentioned in a lecture given here a year or two ago that when
preparing the NRSV, a woman contacted him to suggest that they invent
a new word to render him / her inclusively. The word she suggested
was 'thon', hence 'Whoever has ears to hear, let thon hear' etc. He
replied that as soon as 'thon' appeared in the Oxford English
Dictionary, they would consider using it, but until then they would
have to make do with 'them' etc. which are unsatisfactory, but at
least proper English.
Good wishes
Mark
------------------------
Dr Mark Goodacre
Department of Theology
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TT
Tel.: +44 (0)121 414 7512 Email: M.S.Goodacre@Bham.ac.uk
Fax.: +44 (0)121 414 6866 http://www.bham.ac.uk/theology/goodacre.htm