Re: Translation challenge: Fiat lingua

On 7/8/06, Sally Caves <scaves@...> wrote:
>  Elsewhere (Zompist--where the same request was posted) I
> averred that it was a "performative" in Genesis: the utterance WAS the
> creation of light, i.e., "making itself true," expressed in this present
> subjunctive in the Vulgate, or as some have called it "cohortative."  Is
> that the correct term?  A command expressed in the third person.  Let him be
> imprisoned!
[...]

*nod* AFAIK this sort of performative - that is, the speaking of it
makes it so, like wedding pronouncements, oaths, magic incantations,
etc - is implemented in widely differing ways, even within one
language let alone between. (E.g. "I now pronounce you..."; "... So
mote it be", "I swear...", etc). It seems obvious (as posted earlier)
that God would need no permission, nor plurality, just a performative
act itself, but it might be expressed that way anyway in some
languages.

Which, of course, is part of why it's a neat thing linguisticallly,
and why it makes for a decent translation *challenge* (in addition to
being useful to have for the conference propoganda ;-)).

This is I think a rather well-discussed subject both theologically and
linguistically - the former because of the whole "in the beginning was
the word", and the earlier notions that God was identical to (in some
sense) sound or vibration; the latter because performatives are rather
unusual in that they THEMSELVES make a change in the world, rather
than merely describing one or asking for one. Fun!

 - Sai

Reply