Re: HELP: Translating the Babel Text

William Drewery wrote:
> I've found some of the questions brought up by this thread pretty
> interesting, because my conlang/conculture are extraterrestrials with an
> inorganic, sulfuric acid based chemistry. I wonder if i should translate
> "water" using their word for sulfuric acid, or using their chemical name
> for "hydrogen monoxide".
>
Hmm, maybe you should find some alternative text...:-))) I've avoided
translating most biblical texts into Kash for the simple reason that they
don't have the concept of a Supreme Being who guides ~takes interest in ~or
otherwise interferes or gets involved in human affairs. The Creator whom
they do acknowledge is not worshipped; they believe that having created the
universe and everything in it, the Creator withdrew, and it's up to the
universe et al. to make the best of what there is. I did once translate a
bit of Genesis 1, but that of course is a suitable creation myth(1).  The
other day I was pondering how to do the Babel story and decided it would be
Nende, the Sky Spirit, who got angry at the people for trying to invade his
domain... but that changes the story. He probably had to be majorly placated
when flight was invented.
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(1) Also, the language got a little boring, since most verbs and many nouns
required the honorific prefix par- ~pra-. For example, the first line: ri
parangasi, e parahambesa yaparahan neleç i hinda.
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That thought led to the idea that Kinda, the Earth Spirit, required a _very_
costly sacrifice from country folk who dug a privy or cess-pit--a gold or
silver coin at the least. In modern times, sewer construction, and of course
mines, are the occasion for very elaborate ceremonies. Most city dwellers
really don't take this stuff very seriously anymore-- but you never
know.....