The Book of Mormon: Translation and Meaning
Monday, December 18, 2023
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Language, Translation, and Meaning in the Book of Mormon
In the Book of Mormon, Nephi lamented at one point:
And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men. (2 Nephi 33:1)
There is a challenge inherent in writing, as Nephi sensed — making sure the words are chosen in a way that not only conveys the meaning and intent of the author's thoughts, but also minimizes the chance of misinterpretation. In spoken communication, there are usually chances to include more subtle nuances of meaning in gestures and emphasis, to validate the transfer of meaning by follow-up conversation, and to clarify or expand when necessary. But normally when something is written, the writer and the reader are separated by distance and time.
On the other hand, I've sometimes thought that Nephi's concern was not fully valid, and we could modify his statement to read, "for when a man writeth by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men." I believe it's possible for a man (or woman) to not only speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, but to write by that power, and then to have that same spirit carry meaning unto and into the hearts of a worthy and seeking reader.
There's an additional aspect to this challenge, however. Often words are recorded in one language but then translated into another, and making sure the meaning is conveyed properly during the translation process is more of a challenge than might be expected.
- Portuguese "saudade" - feeling or an emotional state of melancholic or profoundly nostalgic longing for a beloved yet absent something or someone.
- Tshiluba language of Congo "ilunga" - a person who is ready to forgive any abuse the first time it occurs, to tolerate it the second time, but to neither forgive nor tolerate a third offense.
- Japanese "wabi-sabi" - a way of living that emphasizes finding beauty in imperfection, and accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay.
- German "Bulemielernen" - literally means “bulimic learning,” used to describe the process of cramming for a test and then immediately forgetting everything the next day.
- Inuit "Iktsuarpok" - a feeling of anticipation when waiting for a visitor that results in frequent trips outside to see if they are approaching.
- Yaghan language of southern South America "Mamihlapinatapei" - a look two people exchange who both are too shy to initiate anything but who both wish the other would initiate something.
- Portuguese cafuné - to tenderly run one’s fingers through someone’s hair.