Explicit expression is “visible” by definition

But this expression is really nothing more than a small set of signposts, referring to a much larger body of (presumed) shared cultural experience

The explicit expression is above the water

The implicit communication is carried out beneath the water

Implicit information is hidden within the culture and is unconscious

Cultures differ in what is made explicit or kept implicit

Communication FramesCommunication Frames

MessageSource Receptor

Text SignsSource Receptor

“llave”Source Receptor

Water/Gas

Locks

Repair

The negotiation of The negotiation of framesframes

Text SignsSource Receptor

“llave para abrir una puerta”Source Receptor

Frames never overlap completely, but they can overlap adequately

““Llave/Key” in English and Llave/Key” in English and Spanish:Spanish:

English Español

Wrench Llave Faucet Llave Heramienta de mano/dar vuelta Key Llave (físico) Piano key Tecla del piano Computer key Tecla de la computadora Heramientas de aceso Key of map Clave del mapa (abstracto) Key of code Clave del código Key of musical composition Clave músical Key – important Clave - importante “Key” y “llave”: concordancias y faltas de lo mismo.

Heramienta de mano/tocar

Love

Semantic NetworksSemantic Networks

Love

Commpasion

Romantic

Friendship

Chair-sit

Commpasion

Friendship

Romantic

Table-eat

Table-work

Pleat - cloth

Plait - cloth / hair

Plat - hair

Table-Motion

SimilaritySimilarity Any two things whatever, as disparate as Any two things whatever, as disparate as

you like on some criteria (such as the you like on some criteria (such as the camel and the rock badger in Leviticus camel and the rock badger in Leviticus 11), can be counted the same by selecting 11), can be counted the same by selecting shared features. There are an infinite shared features. There are an infinite number of good reasons for assigning any number of good reasons for assigning any two things to the same set two things to the same set (Goodman, 1969)(Goodman, 1969). .

Being similar is an endowment of Being similar is an endowment of intellectual activity, which necessarily has intellectual activity, which necessarily has to start with sets, categories, classes. But to start with sets, categories, classes. But the intellectual activity articulates the the intellectual activity articulates the rest of the behaviour, and the clues as to rest of the behaviour, and the clues as to what is going on are in that behaviour what is going on are in that behaviour (Douglas, (1996:149).(Douglas, (1996:149).

SimilaritySimilarity

BB AAAA

Which one is different?

What is the category?What is the category?

Alcohol Alcohol TobaccoTobacco PerfumePerfume

Alcohol Alcohol TobaccoTobacco FirearmsFirearms

Alcohol Alcohol TobaccoTobacco Playing CardsPlaying Cards

““Resemblance is not Resemblance is not a property” a property”

(Douglas/Lakoff)(Douglas/Lakoff)

Grammar Poetry Length Reference Grammar Poetry Length Reference ConnotationConnotation

““Resemblance is not Resemblance is not a property” a property”

(Douglas/Lakoff)(Douglas/Lakoff)

Grammar Poetry Length Reference Grammar Poetry Length Reference ConnotationConnotation

Brother/sister vs. older sibling/younger Brother/sister vs. older sibling/younger siblingsibling

Here it is clear what is missing/added on Here it is clear what is missing/added on both sides, yet there is no direct way to both sides, yet there is no direct way to translate going in either direction without translate going in either direction without both excluding something referred to in both excluding something referred to in the source and at the same time adding the source and at the same time adding something not referred to in the source. something not referred to in the source. The best we can do is either add the The best we can do is either add the source information to the translation source information to the translation (=longer text) or simply leave it out.(=longer text) or simply leave it out.

ExamplesExamples

““padre” (Spanish) vs. “cool” (English)padre” (Spanish) vs. “cool” (English) While both mean (in some contexts) While both mean (in some contexts)

“great”, or “first class”, they are not “great”, or “first class”, they are not directly equivalent. It is difficult to directly equivalent. It is difficult to describe exactly their differences are, as describe exactly their differences are, as they have something to do with register they have something to do with register and usage. Thus “cool” sounds more and usage. Thus “cool” sounds more informal, youthful and idiomatic than informal, youthful and idiomatic than “padre” (at least to me). One may choose “padre” (at least to me). One may choose to fill in these aspects of difference in to fill in these aspects of difference in translation (=longer text): e.g. “Fantastic, translation (=longer text): e.g. “Fantastic, he exclaimed excitedly”he exclaimed excitedly”

IdentityIdentity Name/do not name people Jesus Name/do not name people Jesus Cremate/do not cremate bodiesCremate/do not cremate bodies

These can be seen as symbolic actions These can be seen as symbolic actions which are intended to indicate respect. So which are intended to indicate respect. So the symbols seems to be opposite the symbols seems to be opposite (explicitly), but they have the same (explicitly), but they have the same reference/purpose/function. Yet in order to reference/purpose/function. Yet in order to serve the intended function for many serve the intended function for many people, the explicit form must be taken people, the explicit form must be taken literally, and the actual reference must literally, and the actual reference must remain hidden.remain hidden.

Identity, cont.Identity, cont. ““Hebrew” = descendants of Jacob (bene Hebrew” = descendants of Jacob (bene

Yisrael)+ nomads (transients, bums)Yisrael)+ nomads (transients, bums) ““Zion” = Jerusalem + city where God Zion” = Jerusalem + city where God

lives/meets people (Big Apple, Windy lives/meets people (Big Apple, Windy City, etc.)City, etc.)

““Horeb” = Sinai + poetic flavorHoreb” = Sinai + poetic flavor ““Cows of Bashan” – both terms have Cows of Bashan” – both terms have

reference and connotationreference and connotation Abraham to servant: “put your hand Abraham to servant: “put your hand

under my thigh”under my thigh”

Communication FramesCommunication Frames

Zion / HebrewsSource Receptor

Jerusalem

Where god lives

Israelites

“Dusty ones”

Communication FramesCommunication Frames

Cows / BashanSource Receptor

Aristocratic women

Big, fat (rich)

Samaria

Best pasture

Psalms of David / Proverbs of Solomon Psalms of David / Proverbs of Solomon 1. Written by?1. Written by?2. Collected by?2. Collected by?3. Dedicated to?3. Dedicated to?

What to do if loyalty to text favors #2 / What to do if loyalty to text favors #2 / #3, yet the client wants #1?#3, yet the client wants #1?

Identity, cont.Identity, cont. Paraphrasing Erving Goffman (“On the Paraphrasing Erving Goffman (“On the

moral career of the individual”-moral career of the individual”-AsylumsAsylums):): The self is not so much revealed in all The self is not so much revealed in all

the diverse interactions it has with the diverse interactions it has with others as it is constituted by these others as it is constituted by these interactions.interactions.

To the extent that these interactions are To the extent that these interactions are represented by symbolic means, the represented by symbolic means, the symbols can be understood as symbols can be understood as constitutive of personal and group constitutive of personal and group identity. identity.

Isolate Isolate –– AlienationAlienation

Hierarchist Hierarchist –– Cooperation within Cooperation within

structurestructure

Individualist Individualist –– Individual Individual competitioncompetition

Enclavist Enclavist –– Cooperation in Cooperation in

dissentdissent

Increasing limits on personal freedom //Increasing solidarity

Cultural ClustersCultural Clusters

Hierarchist Hierarchist –– Cooperation Cooperation

within structurewithin structure

Individualist Individualist –– Individual Individual competitioncompetition

Diagonal of PowerDiagonal of Power

Isolate – Isolate –

AlienationAlienation

Enclavist – Enclavist –

Cooperation in Cooperation in dissent dissent

Diagonal of DissentDiagonal of Dissent

Isolates-Fatalists: Hierarchists-Balancers: Nature is Capricious Nature is Robust within Limits

Individualists-Entrepreneurs: Enclavists-Protectors:Nature is Robust Nature is Fragile

EcologyEcology

Isolate Isolate –– Donkeys DonkeysUsed by othersUsed by othersUnorganized laborUnorganized labor

Hierarchist Hierarchist –– Wolves WolvesPack hunters Pack hunters

Organized labor / Organized labor / managementmanagement

Individualist Individualist –– HawksHawks

Lone operatorsLone operatorsEntrepreneursEntrepreneurs

Enclavist Enclavist –– Vultures VulturesSolidarity/Solidarity/

individualityindividualitySales reps, semi-Sales reps, semi-skilled craftsmenskilled craftsmen

Increasing limits on personal freedom //Increasing solidarity

OrganizationsOrganizations

Isolate – Isolate –

Some forms of Some forms of asceticism asceticism

Hierarchist – Hierarchist –

Roman CatholicismRoman Catholicism

Individualist – Individualist –

Protestantism Protestantism

Enclavist – Enclavist –

New Testament Era New Testament Era Christianity Christianity

Increasing limits on personal freedom //Increasing solidarity

ChristianityChristianity

Isolate – Isolate –

Existential good Existential good faith faith

(true to self)(true to self)

Hierarchist – Hierarchist –

Mutual obligations Mutual obligations

Individualist – Individualist –

Personal virtue / Personal virtue / rights rights

Enclavist – Enclavist –

Universal love Universal love

Increasing limits on personal freedom //Increasing solidarity

RighteousnessRighteousness

In Gen 38 the Hebrew Bible relates the story of Judah and In Gen 38 the Hebrew Bible relates the story of Judah and Tamar, his daughter-in-law. At the end of the story (which Tamar, his daughter-in-law. At the end of the story (which includes Tamar tricking Judah into having sexual relations includes Tamar tricking Judah into having sexual relations with her), as Tamar is being brought out to be stoned and with her), as Tamar is being brought out to be stoned and in that moment reveals that Judah is the father of the child in that moment reveals that Judah is the father of the child she is bearing, Judah declares: “she is more righteous she is bearing, Judah declares: “she is more righteous than I am.” This sentence is nonsense to most modern than I am.” This sentence is nonsense to most modern readers from individualist cultures. For them, readers from individualist cultures. For them, righteousness is personal piety and virtue. Seducing your righteousness is personal piety and virtue. Seducing your father-in-law by trickery does not only does not qualify one father-in-law by trickery does not only does not qualify one as righteous, but quite the opposite. Yet for a culture of as righteous, but quite the opposite. Yet for a culture of hierarchy, the whole point of the story is that Tamar was hierarchy, the whole point of the story is that Tamar was simply doing all she could to fulfill the mutual obligations simply doing all she could to fulfill the mutual obligations which existed in the relationship between herself and her which existed in the relationship between herself and her father-in-law. He owed her a husband, and she owed him father-in-law. He owed her a husband, and she owed him an offspring to continue his linage. That she felt forced to an offspring to continue his linage. That she felt forced to do this by subterfuge and incest is secondary to the real do this by subterfuge and incest is secondary to the real point of righteousness in such a culture. The NT at times point of righteousness in such a culture. The NT at times assumes the hierarchist perspective of the Hebrew Bible assumes the hierarchist perspective of the Hebrew Bible with regard to righteousness, but at other times (cf. with regard to righteousness, but at other times (cf. Romans) seems to take an enclavist position whereby Romans) seems to take an enclavist position whereby righteousness is more of a state of being in a right righteousness is more of a state of being in a right relationship based on trust (faith). relationship based on trust (faith).

Key conceptsKey concepts A network of ideas of loyalty, A network of ideas of loyalty,

obligation, and physical salvation of the obligation, and physical salvation of the community within the hierarchist community within the hierarchist culture of mutual obligation culture of mutual obligation represented by the Hebrew Bible were represented by the Hebrew Bible were first transformed in the enclavist first transformed in the enclavist culture of the NT into concepts of trust, culture of the NT into concepts of trust, love, and spiritual community salvation. love, and spiritual community salvation. And these both have finally been And these both have finally been largely distilled out within modern largely distilled out within modern individualist cultures as conviction, individualist cultures as conviction, virtue and personal salvation. virtue and personal salvation.

Isolate – Isolate –

Marginalized Marginalized persons persons

Hierarchist – Hierarchist –

OT and most OT and most receptor language receptor language

cultures andcultures andsome national some national

cultures cultures

Individualist – Individualist –

Most translation Most translation consultants and consultants and some national some national cultures cultures

Enclavist – Enclavist –

NT and some NT and some receptor language receptor language

cultures cultures Increasing limits on personal freedom //Increasing solidarity

Bible Translation ProcessBible Translation Process

Cultural mediationCultural mediation The translator is forever caught between the The translator is forever caught between the

conceptual worlds of original text and conceptual worlds of original text and intended audience. As Katan’s cultural intended audience. As Katan’s cultural “mediator,” the translator has a responsibility “mediator,” the translator has a responsibility to both thought-worlds. If these worlds to both thought-worlds. If these worlds belong to the same cultural cluster, the job is belong to the same cultural cluster, the job is not so difficult. But even between the Hebrew not so difficult. But even between the Hebrew Bible and the NT the thought-worlds differ, Bible and the NT the thought-worlds differ, so there inevitably will be points at which so there inevitably will be points at which there is no obvious contact between the there is no obvious contact between the understandings the translator is trying to understandings the translator is trying to mediate. In such cases difficult choices must mediate. In such cases difficult choices must be made. Helps of various kinds can make be made. Helps of various kinds can make the task easier. But in the end, the purposes the task easier. But in the end, the purposes of the translator and of the translation will of the translator and of the translation will determine what kinds of similarity will determine what kinds of similarity will characterize a given translation. characterize a given translation.

Translation filters Translation filters

Filter Output

Strong church tradition >> Formal Equivalence

No biblical background >> Dynamic Equivalence

Money no object >> Full Study Bible

Limited funds >> Two-column text only

Long literary history >> “Literary” version

First published work >> Oral-oriented text

History of translation >> Exegetical limits

First Bible translation >> Freedom to innovate

Input is the biblical text