Hide and seek. Aspects of the dynamics of Bible translation

Art may be viewed as fetish, in that it forces meaning on a chaotic world — a dynamic which is briefly illustrated in this article by means of Pablo Picasso’s famous painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Similarly, translations of the biblical texts, which result from very complex processes, may be...

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Main Author: C. Lombaard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2009-12-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2276
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author C. Lombaard
author_facet C. Lombaard
author_sort C. Lombaard
collection DOAJ
description Art may be viewed as fetish, in that it forces meaning on a chaotic world — a dynamic which is briefly illustrated in this article by means of Pablo Picasso’s famous painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Similarly, translations of the biblical texts, which result from very complex processes, may be viewed as fetishes. Translation thus requires a process of deducing and reducing meaning from relative chaos. A proper view of the nature of the Bible text and the theoretical load of exegetical and translation activities must be cultivated among lay translation users, particularly in our age of rising fundamentalisms. To this end, five suggestions are offered. This view affords Bible translators a more balanced status, namely one of humanity with dignity, than is at times found in some popular circles which regard Bible translators with severe suspicion.
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spelling doaj-art-5eca2cb5042b4557b33e8c8780c11d212025-02-11T10:06:08ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892009-12-011210.38140/at.v0i12.2276Hide and seek. Aspects of the dynamics of Bible translationC. Lombaard0University of South Africa Art may be viewed as fetish, in that it forces meaning on a chaotic world — a dynamic which is briefly illustrated in this article by means of Pablo Picasso’s famous painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Similarly, translations of the biblical texts, which result from very complex processes, may be viewed as fetishes. Translation thus requires a process of deducing and reducing meaning from relative chaos. A proper view of the nature of the Bible text and the theoretical load of exegetical and translation activities must be cultivated among lay translation users, particularly in our age of rising fundamentalisms. To this end, five suggestions are offered. This view affords Bible translators a more balanced status, namely one of humanity with dignity, than is at times found in some popular circles which regard Bible translators with severe suspicion. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2276
spellingShingle C. Lombaard
Hide and seek. Aspects of the dynamics of Bible translation
Acta Theologica
title Hide and seek. Aspects of the dynamics of Bible translation
title_full Hide and seek. Aspects of the dynamics of Bible translation
title_fullStr Hide and seek. Aspects of the dynamics of Bible translation
title_full_unstemmed Hide and seek. Aspects of the dynamics of Bible translation
title_short Hide and seek. Aspects of the dynamics of Bible translation
title_sort hide and seek aspects of the dynamics of bible translation
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2276
work_keys_str_mv AT clombaard hideandseekaspectsofthedynamicsofbibletranslation