Holy Text Translation

There is a problem with nearly all holy text translations. Holy text is holy, but regular translations are not.

Some English words are based on prefixes and suffixes. Some Chinese words are based on acoustic and semantic radical characters, and pictographs. Some Arabic words are based on treos of consonants. If a picture paints a thousand words, how can a Chinese character be translated into a single English word, without losing something in translation?

I suggest, that in order to perfectly translate a holy text, one must be able to recreate that text from scratch, understanding why each word was used, and matching this sentiment in the alternate language, without getting bogged down by interlingual inconsistencies. If the new text is to match the quality of the original, then the new author must share the vision of the original. Anything less, and the new holy text is not wholely holy.

Where are you? Are you standing down? Or do you not under-stand? Is this "bright & clear" ("Ming Bai") or do you not "understand" ("Ming Bai")?


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