In Sudan, the translators’ sense of language gets mixed up when they have to describe a generous, good person with ‘one who has a small heart’ and a stingy person with ‘one who has a big heart’.
Reason enough says the Shilluk Language Helper: A stingy man has taken everything to himself and has tucked it away in his heart. That’s why it’s big.
The generous man, who gives everything away, therefore has a small heart. Who’s right, they or we?
A frequently asked question is: would so-called primitive languages have enough words to express biblical truths? Don’t you get confused with the original text when you give the translation a to free interpretation?
Sometimes it’s amazing how creative and visual these languages are.
The Mazatec Indians from Mexico say for Jesus’ miracles: “long neck things”.
Of course, those miracles still have you on your toes and stretching your neck so you can see what’s happening.
Are we also eagerly awaiting Jesus’ miracles when He speaks in other languages, in other cultures?
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