Re: The Mando'a Bible Translation Project
Posted: 17 Apr 2017 23:55
As long as this is still going, I might as well contribute my efforts.
The very first thing I did after leaning about Mando'a was to translate the first chapter of John. I can't seem to find my original translation, though I'm sure it was ripe with errors. I do use 'El' as God. As far as I can tell, there is no confusion with any other word in Mando'a, and this is the original Hebrew name of God. Or, at least one of them. Instead of using any particular English translation, I use either the original Greek, or Hebrew. Our English translations are just that, so in order to preserve the original ideas and concepts as originally written, I use the original language. I do not speak, read, etc., either Greek or Hebrew so I use an interlinear translation for this.
Here is the first paragraph of John translated:
Sha maan'la cuy haar miit, bal haar miit cuy ti El, bal haar miit cuy El.
Kaysh sha maan'la ti El.
Ankebise ru'olar lo cuy'la adol Kaysh, bal dar'tome kaysh naas ru'olar lo cuy'la meg ru'olar lo cuy'la.
O'r Kaysh oyar, bal haar oyar ru'cuy nau at adate.
Haar nau tranir o'r werde, bal werde nu'suvar.
Here it is in English:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
The theology is as important to me as the correct Mando'a is. Any and all feedback is appreciated.
The very first thing I did after leaning about Mando'a was to translate the first chapter of John. I can't seem to find my original translation, though I'm sure it was ripe with errors. I do use 'El' as God. As far as I can tell, there is no confusion with any other word in Mando'a, and this is the original Hebrew name of God. Or, at least one of them. Instead of using any particular English translation, I use either the original Greek, or Hebrew. Our English translations are just that, so in order to preserve the original ideas and concepts as originally written, I use the original language. I do not speak, read, etc., either Greek or Hebrew so I use an interlinear translation for this.
Here is the first paragraph of John translated:
Sha maan'la cuy haar miit, bal haar miit cuy ti El, bal haar miit cuy El.
Kaysh sha maan'la ti El.
Ankebise ru'olar lo cuy'la adol Kaysh, bal dar'tome kaysh naas ru'olar lo cuy'la meg ru'olar lo cuy'la.
O'r Kaysh oyar, bal haar oyar ru'cuy nau at adate.
Haar nau tranir o'r werde, bal werde nu'suvar.
Here it is in English:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
The theology is as important to me as the correct Mando'a is. Any and all feedback is appreciated.