Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 77 No. 1, 2007.
Pregledni rad
Linguistic Theories of Translating and the New Croatian Translation of the Bible
Božo Lujić
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The purpose of this article is to show the linguistic-theoretical basis of translating which could be used as such far the new translation of the Holy Scripture commissioned by the Croatian Biblical Society with the support of the United Biblical Societies. The article presents several linguistic theories starting with literal translation to those presenting a functional equivalent and communicative translation. Each of the said theories show a tendency to step out of an enslaved need for today's reader to be tied to the original text. Apart from that, the theories clearly show how a literal translation is incomprehensible and in that regard cannot be reliable.
A new translation needs to be a text targeted primarily to a target group far which it is intended. It is obvious that faithfulness towards the letter does not at the same time mean faithful to the spirit. As such, it is understood that a true translation needs to be functional and communicative. It, infact, needs to have the same effect on contemporary readers as the original text had on the first readers it was intended for. This of course is a difficult task but this should be the objective that needs to be aspired and worked towards.
The problem of a new translation is not only some new language. There are other tasks that the translator needs to be aware of: it is necessary to bridge the gap between that original civilisation and modern civilisation; between the culture of the time and today's culture; between the understanding of language at the time and now; between the then realisation of God and theology and now. This is a demanding task that requires the translator to be familiar with not only Biblical language and the language into which it is being translated but also a very sound knowledge of the original and targeted cultures and civilisations.
Hence there are various types of translations that have emerged on the basis of various intentions and translating methods. For these reasons they surpass any evaluation that begins from its conception and intention yet evaluated some translation made according to another conception or function. It is not the same to create a studious translation, liturgical translation or missionary translation.
The new Croatian translation of the Bible being prepared by the Croatian Biblical Society tends towards communicativeness and functionality because its intention is missionary and pastoral targeted to people who live in secularised world and are not capable of thinking in narrow categories of theological thought which would be comprehensible only to theologians. In any case, the Bible emerged from life and speech about life as it is and as it should be.
Ključne riječi
translating the Bible; linguistic theory of translation; translating methods; translation models; evaluation criteria; literal translation; combined translation; functional translation; communicative translation; new Croatian translation of the Bible
Hrčak ID:
23491
URI
Datum izdavanja:
17.7.2007.
Posjeta: 5.351 *