Re: HELP: Translating the Babel Text

On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 18:21:03 -0500, Roger Mills <rfmilly@...> wrote:
 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.
Sounds a bit like the Filipino version of the creator -- it exists but
is distant and withdrawn and for help people go to the other gods or
their ancestors for help. This supreme god was considered far too
removed to go to for help unless circumstances were dire. However,
this idea of a supreme god, with a lower but still ever present god
helped make a transition into Christianity easy for Filipinos,
supposedly (and possibly for Muslim converts in the south as well).
I've read that the Spanish were surprised that the native culture had
words to express all the important Christian terminology and they had
little need for explanation.

As to the problem of translating the clay brick issue, i think the
text explains pretty much what they are. Do the Ayeri not have
pottery? If so, they'd understand that burning bricks makes them hard.
You'd have to maybe add in that they'd be used as stone blocks are
used.


--
You can turn away from me
but there's nothing that'll keep me here you know
And you'll never be the city guy
Any more than I'll be hosting The Scooby Show

Scooby Show - Belle and Sebastian

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