From: B.J. Williamson (hellen_ic@hotmail.com)
Date: Sun Jun 25 2000 - 21:21:29 EDT
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>From: "Mark Wilson" <emory2002@hotmail.com>
>KAI hO TI AN AITHSHTE EN TWi ONOMATI MOU TOUTO POIHSW, hINA DOXASQHi hO
>PATHR EN TWi hUIWi
>EAN TI AITHSHTE ME EN TWi ONOMATI MOU EGW POIHSW
Translated:
>“And I will do whatever you ask that is in accordance with my legacy, so
>that the Father may be glorified by means of the Son. If >you ask me
>anything that is in accordance with my legacy, I will do >it.”
>
>ONOMATI
>
>He indicated that this word had many meanings. such as:
>
>1. all that a name implies or covers
>2. authority
>3. character
>4. rank
>5. majesty
>6. power
>7. excellence
First, a comment Jim West made caught my attention as it related to the
"translation" process.
>EN
>
>He translates this "in accordance with."
Jim wrote:
“its somewhat of an "over-reading". by this i mean it is much more
interpretive than the preposition itself means. it means merely in, by,
with. he is interpreting here and neither translating nor exegeting.”
I would not be so harsh at this stage, especially the implication that
translating is altogether separated from “interpreting.” This gives the
false impression that there is a “correct” or “literal” translation that
actually exists, and that this individual may have crossed those clearly
marked boundaries.
I have always been uneasy about translating any native word or phrase in
such a way that requires additional “interpretation (explanation)” to
explain the corresponding target word or phrase. If the target word or
phrase is “unclear,” the translator has somewhat failed.
In the above example, if we translate ONOMA as “name,” we have done little
more than transferred a target word over that “sometimes” means what this
Greek word means sometimes. We should not be too quick as translators to
translate words apart from their meaning in a particular context. To bring
“name” over every time we see ONOMA is not translating, it’s transferring
symbols over without regard for the context. Yes, translators must make
interpretive decisions in every verse they translate.
Concerning this individual’s use of “legacy,” I think we, in the United
States, generally think of legacy as something handed down from one
generation to the next. In addition, legacy, at least to me, seems
inseparably linked to the individuals who hand it down. For example, my
grandfather left quite a legacy, in the sense of a reputation.
So, one meaning of ONOMA is "1. all that a name implies or covers." This
could mean reputation or, in some sense, legacy.
With the above in mind, I would perhaps question whether or not “legacy”
actually captures the meaning of ONOMA in this context, but quite frankly,
it is not that far off. Where this individual should be commended, IMHO, is
in his understanding that “translating” is to bring the meaning over, not
the word. We can debate whether or not “legacy” does indeed capture the
meaning of ONOMA in this context, but that is exactly what we should be
debating.
Respectfully,
B.J. Williamson
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