... is the name of a book which translates French idioms literally for
the amusement of English speakers. ("Bum of bag" being "cul de sac".)
The book shows in a humorous way that idiomatic expressions translated
literally are often incomprehensible.
I had my doubts when in Psalm 28:3 I read in our Monkolé text, "Maà
dasim si bɔgɔ akã do ilu kukã ŋa do woo ce laalɔ ŋa", which means
"don't put me in one bag with the wicked and those who do evil". I
checked the French versions, and sure enough I found one with that
meaning, "Ne me mets pas dans le même sac que les méchants, eux qui font
le malheur des autres".
Now, as I have already mentioned, I am not a native Monkolé speaker, so
though I had my doubts, I simply asked my translators if the expression
existed in Monkolé. They decided to change it to "Don't treat me as you
treat...", which I suspect does make more sense!
mardi 19 décembre 2017
Tinsel and snow
When we were down in Cotonou at the end of November, we were amused to see this big Christmas display in the hypermarket. We don't see anything like this in the rural north!
I took this photo, and later was looking at it before sending it to my family, when it struck me how funny it was to see our kids in "summer" clothes in front of the "snowy" scene. What was equally amusing was that when I was taking the photo I hadn't thought of that at all!
I took this photo, and later was looking at it before sending it to my family, when it struck me how funny it was to see our kids in "summer" clothes in front of the "snowy" scene. What was equally amusing was that when I was taking the photo I hadn't thought of that at all!
More loss in translation...
I'm not a poet and I don't pretend to be one. But I can enjoy poetry.
I'm also not a native Monkolé speaker, and I couldn't even dream of
pretending to be one. So I feel that it isn't up to me to decide whether
something sounds "right" or "poetic" in Monkolé.
And translating poetry is really really difficult, including the Psalms.
Sometimes I feel that getting the meaning right, leaves it sounding very
*clunky* in Monkolé. We will discuss this in the team, but ultimately
it's not my call.
I just long for something of the beauty of the Psalms to shine through
in Monkolé.
I'm also not a native Monkolé speaker, and I couldn't even dream of
pretending to be one. So I feel that it isn't up to me to decide whether
something sounds "right" or "poetic" in Monkolé.
And translating poetry is really really difficult, including the Psalms.
Sometimes I feel that getting the meaning right, leaves it sounding very
*clunky* in Monkolé. We will discuss this in the team, but ultimately
it's not my call.
I just long for something of the beauty of the Psalms to shine through
in Monkolé.
jeudi 7 décembre 2017
Parallels
I am currently working on checking parallel passages. I need to make
sure that where passages are identical, we have an identical text, but
that where they vary, our translation varies accordingly.
Look up 1 Chronicles 17:16-27 and compare it to 2 Samuel 7:18-29 if you
want to get an idea of what I'm up against!
sure that where passages are identical, we have an identical text, but
that where they vary, our translation varies accordingly.
Look up 1 Chronicles 17:16-27 and compare it to 2 Samuel 7:18-29 if you
want to get an idea of what I'm up against!
mardi 28 novembre 2017
More sightings on the road
Our travels often give us good photos. Here are a few more:
Underneath the artwork it says, in English despite this being a Beninese lorry, "Horn Be For Over Taking". In case you're wondering, in the Benin Highway Code it does say that if you are overtaking someone you should sound your horn. Presumably because so many people either don't have mirrors or don't use them!
This one amused me. Above it says (in French this time) "Ya Allah, separate me from all that separates me from you" and underneath (in English) "Bob Marley, One Love".
This was a rather scary lorry, travelling on the wrong side of the road, and - we hope - probably trying to find a place to stop to sort out its leaning load! I asked Marc to stay as far from it as possible as we passed it!
These Bariba princes rode past the SIM compound in Parakou while we were there, with a loud banging of drums. Unfortunately I came out of the gate a bit too late, but even from behind they are impressive. The prince over on the right saw me, and did a small dressage (African style!) display which I videoed ... unfortunately the video is 23MB so there's no way I could upload it for you!
Underneath the artwork it says, in English despite this being a Beninese lorry, "Horn Be For Over Taking". In case you're wondering, in the Benin Highway Code it does say that if you are overtaking someone you should sound your horn. Presumably because so many people either don't have mirrors or don't use them!
This one amused me. Above it says (in French this time) "Ya Allah, separate me from all that separates me from you" and underneath (in English) "Bob Marley, One Love".
This was a rather scary lorry, travelling on the wrong side of the road, and - we hope - probably trying to find a place to stop to sort out its leaning load! I asked Marc to stay as far from it as possible as we passed it!
These Bariba princes rode past the SIM compound in Parakou while we were there, with a loud banging of drums. Unfortunately I came out of the gate a bit too late, but even from behind they are impressive. The prince over on the right saw me, and did a small dressage (African style!) display which I videoed ... unfortunately the video is 23MB so there's no way I could upload it for you!
mercredi 8 novembre 2017
Women's Day
Last Sunday was Women's Day at church. It is organised by the central leadership of our denomination, and so at least in theory, all the UEEB churches are celebrating Women's Day on the same day.
The Wednesday before was a Bank Holiday. I was just pruning some bushes early in the morning - the only bearable time to do it, but I'm rarely free to do so - when the pastor's wife arrived. She told me that the woman from our church who had been supposed to preach at the Women's Day service was feeling unwell, and had pulled out. And they didn't know who on earth they could ask at such short notice...! I didn't feel I had much choice but to accept!
Usually women don't preach in our church, but Women's Day is an exception. I was given the title "The wife is the happiness of the home" ... at least that's the closest I can get to translating it ... which didn't seem to be directly taken from the Bible! I was also given the other woman's notes, so I started as she did with "why God created the woman" but then continued differently.
None of the women felt capable of translating, so I asked Marc to do it, and in fact gave him a written translation in French in advance (in case he didn't understand my Monkolé well enough!).
The service was a very joyful one. The usual choir is replaced by a choir made up only of married women, and they had prepared some fun sketches as well. And I think the sermon went well. It was hard to get any kind of feedback as I spoke (Marc says that is usual) but was impressed with how quiet it was, despite all the children being present.
Here is the board from that service. (I'm "Ilari" - Hilary pronounced the French way and then transliterated.)
The Wednesday before was a Bank Holiday. I was just pruning some bushes early in the morning - the only bearable time to do it, but I'm rarely free to do so - when the pastor's wife arrived. She told me that the woman from our church who had been supposed to preach at the Women's Day service was feeling unwell, and had pulled out. And they didn't know who on earth they could ask at such short notice...! I didn't feel I had much choice but to accept!
Usually women don't preach in our church, but Women's Day is an exception. I was given the title "The wife is the happiness of the home" ... at least that's the closest I can get to translating it ... which didn't seem to be directly taken from the Bible! I was also given the other woman's notes, so I started as she did with "why God created the woman" but then continued differently.
None of the women felt capable of translating, so I asked Marc to do it, and in fact gave him a written translation in French in advance (in case he didn't understand my Monkolé well enough!).
The service was a very joyful one. The usual choir is replaced by a choir made up only of married women, and they had prepared some fun sketches as well. And I think the sermon went well. It was hard to get any kind of feedback as I spoke (Marc says that is usual) but was impressed with how quiet it was, despite all the children being present.
Here is the board from that service. (I'm "Ilari" - Hilary pronounced the French way and then transliterated.)
mardi 31 octobre 2017
Busy busy busy!
I have not been blogging lately, mainly due to lots of travelling and time going even faster than usual! Here is a photo from our recent SIM Benin-Togo missionary conference, with the Reverend Richard Hibbert, vicar of Christ Church Bedford, speaking on the resurrection of Jesus. Marc was translating into French for him.
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