The main spring of Rosenzweig’s thoughts about translation stems from the Bible. This can be clearly seen in the Star of Redemption, especially when he states:
It is the first effect of the spirit to translate, to erect a bridge between man and man, between tongue and tongue . . . God speaks everywhere with the words of men . . . the translator, the one who hears and transmits, knows himself equal to the One who first spoke and received the word. (366)
This suggests that the essence of translation is communication; it is the only solution to bridge the chasm between human beings. God speaks to men through a spoken language. In addition, Rosenzweig debates in his Jehuda Halevithat that “there is only one language.” All languages are basically one language under the umbrella of God. just as a language has given birth to all who speak it, so all human expression, all alien tongues that ever have been or will be spoken, must be contained in it, at least in the germ . . .There is no trait in any one language which is not at least latent in every other, though it may appear only in dialects, in the vocabularies of trades and callings, or in the chatter of the nursery. The possibility and the function of translating, its can-be, may-be and should-be, are based on this essential oneness of all languages, and on the command springing from that oneness that there shall be communication among all men.
According to Rosenzweig, all languages come to gather to create the language
In her book, “A Man Without Words,” Susan Schaller describes how the eighteenth century French philosophers continually exercised speculation as to how much of human nature was "given" and native, and how much was dependent on language and culture. She encountered Ildefonso, a Mexican Indian who lived in the most unique form of isolation, who was born deaf, and had never been taught even the most basic language. She set herself the challenge to make contact with this man, and introduce him to language. Ildefonso not only lacked any language but lacked any idea of language: he had no conception, at first, of what Schaller was trying to do, yet Ildefonso had a yearning to
On the one hand, English was the language used to communicate with outsiders. It was a tool for survival and held no personal meaning. It was crucial for public success. On the other hand, in Richard Rodriguez’s own words: “Spanish was associated with closeness”. By reading the previous passage, we can clearly infer that Spanish was the key to Richard’s confort. Hearing Spanish brought Rodriguez feelings of love, acceptance, family, and security. Spanish was a reminder of home and seemed to him a private language. In other words, he was surrounded by a web built by the family love and security which is conveyed by using the Spanish language, as the following passage shows: “...Spanish seemed to me the language of home...It became the language of joyful return...”. Moreover, if we consider the following passage:”You belong here. We are family members. Related. Special to one another” it is possible to say that Spanish language made Rodriguez felt as part of his family, creating a feeling of belonging and reinforcing family ties and ethnic heritage.
up speaking a new language” (pg. 194): all words from the Bible. They had created a language
Language is the the primary way of communicating with one another. This can be written or spoken.
It only takes one word to process the word language in a person’s mind, and that is purely the language that he/she speaks. Language is the immediate translator of communication. Author Thompson Olusegun Ewata writes in his book Business Communication for Academic and professional Purposes that “Language is a vehicle that we use in presenting ideas, thoughts, feelings, opinions to the world” (Ewata 2010). In other words, language is how people share with others all of the information they are processing. Science fiction author Philip K. Dick expands on this relationship between language and communication in his novel The Penultimate Truth, by demonstrating the connections and flow of information from the above-ground and below-ground people.
Language is the skill created in order to communicate with others. In the essay “Translating Translation: Finding the Beginning” by Alberto Alvaro Rios, the author demonstrates his interpretation of language and translation. In “Learning to Read and Write” by Frederick Douglass he explain his own hardships in trying to learn to communicate. Rios focuses more on translations of language, while Douglass expands on the struggle to learn the language. In both essays, the authors give their own experience with communication.
When the words of the Bible did not translate correctly over to Kikongo (the language spoken by the people of Kilanga) Nathan insisted on continuing his mission to preach, believing that God put him on this mission in order to spread the language of the “holy text”. In Nathan’s mind, he believes that only he can connect the people of Kilanga to the language of the Bible, a task not achieved by any other missionaries. In the article “Divine words: what role does language learning play in religious practice?” written by Matthew Jenkin, an editor of Guardian Careers and a freelance contributor, he wants to understand why language is so intertwined with religion. To answer this question he explores the correlation of Hebrew and Judaism, Arabic and Islam, and lastly classical Tibetan and Buddhism.
Language can be seen as a communication barrier for some. Sometimes it may be difficult to talk to a customer, distant relative, or just a person walking down the street asking for directions. Now imagine a world where every single human being spoke the same language; a place where your distant relative from another country suddenly speaks the same language as you and you can begin to appreciate or dislike them even more; where now you are connected to billions of people who you can easily communicate with; where one universal language can now progress humankind.
Tan demonstrates the frustration her mother experienced in communicating with the outside world, “my mother has long realized the limitations of her English as well” (274). This is evident when she translates her mother’s broken English into standard English. With the proper English that Tan uses, business people and merchants take note and become attentive to her requests. She isn’t brushed aside, ignored or dismissed like her mother (Tan 274). With nothing more than her ability to communicate in proper English, she is given respect. The only way her mother is able to voice her opinion, with people outside her family, is through Tan. Imagine the futility in knowing that the only way you can defend yourself or make your ideas known to others is through an interpreter.
Tongues (v4) indicates language and the communication of the Good News. The good news in v4 was that people spoke in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance. This was a supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit and certainly gained attention from Jews who were from different native countries and cities. All nationalities who were in Jerusalem recognised their own language being spoken.
When books, speeches, or just everyday conversation become translated into other languages parts can be lost or start to no longer make sense; some of the parts get “lost in translation”. Some words have such a deep meaning in a language that if you try to translate them they may be lost and lose some of their meaning. Because of this, it cannot be translated but it also should not be translated.
Over the years, scholars have been debating the validity of using the historical-critical method in Lutheran seminaries, in the context of Scripture interpretation. Some scholars, who prefer Martin Luther’s grammatical-critical method, are concerned that the historical-critical method creates an environment of doubt and confusion. I will evaluate and review two articles that pertain to this subject, The Historical-Critical Method of Bible Interpretation written by Seigert W. Becker and Higher Criticism and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America written by Richard A. Krause. In addition, I will analyze Timothy Ward’s book Words of Life and Dr. Francis Martin’s contribution to Carl, Scott ed. Verbum Domini and the Complimentarity of Exegesis and Theology, in order to formulate my theology of Holy Scripture. Although, some scholars continue to use the historical-critical method, other scholars believe that it is a failing method, which undermines the authority and veracity of Scripture. Becker expounds his views against the historical-critical method.
Also in Acts when the Apostles where filled with the Spirit they started to speak in languages.” This is absolutely important because without language we could not receive the intended message as set in motion by God.
Biblical Interpretation is important and necessary so that we can understand what the text is saying, what the intended theological message is, and how to personally apply and teach these Scriptural truths to carry forward the Gospel in rescuing others from despair and death to hope and life, thus displaying His glory and growing His Kingdom. It is about finding what God is revealing about Himself and His Son Jesus Christ. Moreover, it is for us to know that God desires to have a relationship with us and for us to be set apart in a covenant relationship with Him to display holy lives that bring Him glory. Interpretation, using hermeneutical principles, help guide us in proper boundaries for interpreting Scripture so that we can reveal the intended meaning of the text. Without this, we run the risk of imposing our own ideas on the text, therefore misinterpreting. Misinterpreting can cause us to miss theological truths, administer the wrong application, and neglect or overlook the meaning of the text which weakens the impact of God’s truth in our personal lives as well as others we are teaching.
“Translators have to prove to themselves as to others that they are in control of what they do, that they do not just translate well because they have a “flair” for translation, but rather because, like other professional, they have made a conscious effort to understand various aspects of their work.”