Re: HELP: Translating the Babel Text

On Saturday 30 October 2004 17:25, Jeffrey Henning wrote:

 > On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 14:32:57 -0000, caeruleancentaur
 >
 > <caeruleancentaur@YAHOO.COM <mailto:caeruleancentaur@...>> wrote:
 > >The whole purpose of that line in the story was to
 > > explain to the Hebrew culture what the Mesopotamian
 > > culture used for building.  In their mountains the
 > > Hebrews used stone/mortar while on the Mesopotamian
 > > plain they used brick/asphalt.  If at all possible, if
 > > the culture does know what stone/bricks/asphalt/mortar
 > > are, then those words should be used.  We're not trying
 > > to tell the reader how to build a tower, but how that
 > > particular culture built a tower.
 >
 > I guess we should agree to disagree:  the translator can
 > have their own agenda.  Are they trying to convey a story
 > that they see as literally true? Are they trying to
 > convey a story that they regard as a parable?  If it is
 > literally true, then translate it as equivalently as
 > possible.  If it is a parable, then translate it into
 > cultural terms that convey the essence of the story.

As I wrote, I thought my people know what bricks are etc.,
but bricks are not very much used. So I think from what you
wrote that it's better to translate the text how it is
written in the Bible in my case.

Thanks,
Carsten

--
Eri silveváng aibannama padangin.
Nivaie evaenain eri ming silvoieváng caparei.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Le Petit Prince
  -> http://www.beckerscarsten.de/?conlang=ayeri

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