PROJECTS: BIBLE TRANSLATION

Especially since 2000 there is a serious rethinking of models in terms of which the theoretical underpinning of Bible translation in the broader sense of the word could be better accounted for.

Thus far the Centre has fulfilled an important role in this process. The model which has been developed and tested by the Centre, is used at the moment to lay the foundations for a new translation of the Bible into Afrikaans.

In this model the insights of Christiane Nord and Ernst-August Gutt play a crucial role. Nord's "functionalistic" model keeps account of the fact that the success of specific Bible translations is mostly determined by the degree to which the translations answer to the expectations and needs of the target language readers. It puts a great responsibility on translation agencies to have a thorough knowledge of the subjective theories of the target language audience (that is their traditions and perceptions concerning the Bible as a holy document), but also of the problem concerning the successful communication between an ancient text like the Bible on the one side and contemporary readers on the other side. It is in this regard that Gutt's view of Bible translation as (a difficult form of) communication is of value. Gutt explains the complexity of the process in detail.

The functionalistic model which is proposed by the Centre, has, among others, the following implications:

1. Translation of the Bible demands a team effort between Biblical scholars and translators.
2. There is a need for translations of the source text in which Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic is copied in Afrikaans and/or English and then supplied with extensive information (text-critical, grammatical, lexical, cultural). This information should help translators (who are not source text experts) to understand the source text better.
3. The type of knowledge that the above mentioned "Afrikaans" and/or "English" source text asks for, stresses the gaps of the existing source text grammars and dictionaries as well as the worldview(s) of the source text which lies at the heart of the Bible.

For this reason the following projects are currently undertaken:

Academic projects

PROJECT 1: BIBLICAL HEBREW AND GREEK FOR BIBLE TRANSLATORS AND EXPOSITORS

A Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (SDBH)

Members (and students of the Department of Ancient Studies) cooperate as co-workers in the project of the United Bible Societies edited by Dr. Reinier de Blois.

A hypertext Bible for translators and exegetes

This is a long-term project undertaken in cooperation with Logos Information Systems in Bellingham, USA.

Currently the focus of this project is the writing of an exhaustive electronic Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar that would compliment the SDBH. Currently Prof. C H J van der Merwe and Prof. J A Naudé (University of the Free State) and four postgraduate students are participating in this project.

Teaching the ancient languages more effectively

This is a medium-term project to improve the method and content of the ancient languages in the light of current developments in Applied Linguistics and Computer-Assistant Learning. Two doctoral projects have recently been launced for these purposes.

PROJECT 2: BIBLE TRANSLATION AS INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Bible translation as intercultural communication: a theoretical and practical reflection (C van der Merwe)

Translation and ownership of the Bible in Africa (J Punt)

By keeping up with the latest publications in the field of Bible translation, attending conferences and workshops, serving on relevant committees and boards and/or being involved in translation projects, members of the Centre stay abreast of the needs and challenges of translaton agencies.

Prospective doctoral students are encouraged to launch projects that address these needs. When these students have graduated, they often do research on a part-time basis on topics that emerge from their doctoral projects as research associates of the Centre. Currently five former doctoral students who are currently full-time translation consultants are research associates of the Centre.