Comments on: Formal and traditional Bible translation

By: CD-Host

CD-Host — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:34:19 +0000

What is interesting is how much unanimity there is on the formal / dynamic axis. If you pick two translations at random and ask people which is more formal, they generally agree. Keith is certainly right that what is the center has a lot to do with perspective and marketing. Even Ryken’s literature puts them in the center: i.e. everything more dynamic is not distinguished in his book.

In terms of literal and non traditional, the Concordant is a good counter example. In the last decade you see a lot of translations breaking with Saint Jerome’s idea that the Hebrew should be the basis for the OT and instead going with the LXX. That’s reversing 1600 years of tradition.

By: David Ker

David Ker — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:32:27 +0000

These charts are helpful but an oversimplification. I think that’s enough said. When you drill down they tend to fall apart.So many of these tags tend to be emotive. I’ve tried “classic” vs. “contemporary” to try to steer away from the other terms but those terms have their own sets of triggers. Sigh.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:31:53 +0000

Keith wrote: Notice how our chart has the NLT in the middle, just like Zondervan’s has the NIV/TNIV in the middle?

I shudder to think what Crossway's chart would look like if the ESV was in the middle...

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:22:25 +0000

Well, it would behoove Zondervan’s marketing to show the ESV being as literal as possible and not close to the T/NIV, wouldn’t it?

It appears that way. Good counter-punch on Zondervan’s part if indeed this is the case. Interesting!

By: Stan McCullars

Stan McCullars — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:17:33 +0000

Zondervan has a marketing department?Perhaps marketing didn’t get the memo that Zondervan is now publishing the TNIV.

By: Peter M. Lopez

Peter M. Lopez — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:08:30 +0000

Interesting! You have stumbled on a new marketing technique: meta-marketing. Too funny.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:53:45 +0000

@TC: So are you saying that the Zondervan folks bought into the Crossway marketing in designing this chart?

Well, it would behoove Zondervan's marketing to show the ESV being as literal as possible and not close to the T/NIV, wouldn't it?

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:50:37 +0000

Thanks for the link, Keith – I think your chart is more accurate in that it doesn’t attempt such fine gradation as Zondervan’s. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure that the Living Bible did *not* attempt to retain the idiom and vocabulary of the KJV, which is the heartbeat of “traditional” translations.

@Jeff – yes, the HCSB straddles that line as well, which is what had attracted me to it. Traditional vocabulary, but contemporary idiom. I should caveat that I haven’t spent enough time with the NAB to see if it fits this bill as well, as both Zondervan and Tyndale characterize it close to the NRSV.

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:49:51 +0000

Well, if nothing else, it is an accurate portrayal of Crossway’s marketing… there is another translation spectrum chart out there somewhere, but I wasn’t able to find it right away – I’ll include it in an update if I (or someone else) find it.

So are you saying that the Zondervan folks bought into the Crossway marketing in designing this chart? I find that interesting.

Keith, I guess it comes down to whoever puts the chart together. But I do see the catch with the NLT in the middle of the chart. Your eyes can’t miss it.

By: Keith Williams

Keith Williams — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:47:44 +0000

Interesting idea, but I think the dependence of most of these translations on the KJV (and the Tyndale tradition) is pretty complicated. In fact, the Living Bible itself would probably have to swing over to the “traditional” side in your taxonomy, since it was directly dependent upon the KJV!

As for your question about other translation charts, here is Tyndale’s. Notice how our chart has the NLT in the middle, just like Zondervan’s has the NIV/TNIV in the middle?