Translating the Bible into Toba...
text and graphics© 2010 Michael Browne
Short words. One characteristic of the Toba language is the use of many short words called pre-nouns, which have no equivalent in European languages.
How do we include these in the Toba translation, making sure that the correct forms of the pre-nouns are used in each case...?
How do we include these in the Toba translation, making sure that the correct forms of the pre-nouns are used in each case...?
Mark 1:1-2a
chose. And finally, Isaiah: after much discussion, it was felt that the “person now dead” form was better, as the focus is on the fact that Isaiah wrote a long time before. So this is what Osvaldo’s translation of Mark 1:1-2a says:
Da'me 'uaechiñe 'Naqataĝanaĝac jo'ne Onaĝaic 'me 'yaĝatetac ñe'me Dios Lec'oĝot, mach'e Jesus jo'ne Dios Liquiyac.
Di'me Isaias jo'ne Dios 'laqataĝanaĝanaĝanec yediñe joca'li da'me dojo' Dios 'laqataĝanaĝac jo'ne enaac: ...
Which means:
[Pre-noun: general term] beginning (of the) Message which is Good that tells about [pre-noun: person of authority] God’s Son, that is Jesus who is God’s Chosen One.
[Pre-noun: person now dead] Isaiah who is God’s message-bearer writes a long time ago [pre-noun: general term] God’s message which says...
Da'me 'uaechiñe 'Naqataĝanaĝac jo'ne Onaĝaic 'me 'yaĝatetac ñe'me Dios Lec'oĝot, mach'e Jesus jo'ne Dios Liquiyac.
Di'me Isaias jo'ne Dios 'laqataĝanaĝanaĝanec yediñe joca'li da'me dojo' Dios 'laqataĝanaĝac jo'ne enaac: ...
Which means:
[Pre-noun: general term] beginning (of the) Message which is Good that tells about [pre-noun: person of authority] God’s Son, that is Jesus who is God’s Chosen One.
[Pre-noun: person now dead] Isaiah who is God’s message-bearer writes a long time ago [pre-noun: general term] God’s message which says...
The Greek text of these verses are as follows:
The NIV translates as follows:
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: ...
In Toba, most nouns are preceded by what is called a pre-noun (no equivalent in European languages), and there are different forms according to spatial relationships between the person or thing being spoken about and the person speaking. In these verses, we need to put in a pre-noun before the following nouns: “beginning”, “God’s Son”, “Isaiah” and “God’s message” (what was written).
Now, “beginning” and “God’s message” present no problems, as they both use a general form of the pre-noun, “da’me”. However, “God’s Son” and “Isaiah” are more difficult. For “God’s Son” there are three possibilities: one meaning “person now dead”, one meaning “person having gone away”, and one meaning “person of authority”. But as the Tobas always speak of God and Jesus with the “person of authority” form, this was the one Osvaldo
The NIV translates as follows:
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: ...
In Toba, most nouns are preceded by what is called a pre-noun (no equivalent in European languages), and there are different forms according to spatial relationships between the person or thing being spoken about and the person speaking. In these verses, we need to put in a pre-noun before the following nouns: “beginning”, “God’s Son”, “Isaiah” and “God’s message” (what was written).
Now, “beginning” and “God’s message” present no problems, as they both use a general form of the pre-noun, “da’me”. However, “God’s Son” and “Isaiah” are more difficult. For “God’s Son” there are three possibilities: one meaning “person now dead”, one meaning “person having gone away”, and one meaning “person of authority”. But as the Tobas always speak of God and Jesus with the “person of authority” form, this was the one Osvaldo
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