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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Footnotes, was: The translation of ehyeh

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: Vadim Cherny <VadimCherny AT mail.ru>
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Footnotes, was: The translation of ehyeh
  • Date: Sun, 07 Aug 2005 23:05:36 +0100

On 07/08/2005 17:40, Vadim Cherny wrote:

It is much better to put the
explantory reading in the text, and if necessary add a footnote giving a
more literal rendering.



A dangerous path, indeed. Honestly, it should be called exegesis, not
translation. Why keep literal rendering from the readers? At the minimum, an
honest translator must state his preference at the beginning--something
which I have yet to see--as to the method. ...


Most translators, at least of modern English versions, explain their translation principles in a preface to their translations.

I am not suggesting keeping the literal rendering from the readers, but putting in a footnote where it can be consulted by anyone who is interested.

... Does he choose statistically most
common translation? Or, perhaps, a translation justified by the context? Or,
by the historical perspective? Or, by his exegesis needs? ...


Not his or her personal needs of course, but his or her exegesis of the text, with a view to the context, the historical perspective etc. It is impossible to translate without doing this kind of exegesis.

... How improbable
translation he could adopt? Say, if the translation chosen is attested for
only 10% of the word' entries, does that warrant a footnote of caution? I
always found it a bit odd: manuals for electric kettles contain all kinds of
superfluous precautions, but a manual for supposedly the salvation
translated very vaguely.


I have nothing against precautions. But if the text is all precautions and no clear instructions, how will you know even how to switch on the kettle?

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/





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