Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 37:1 (Apr 2024)
Article: The Use Of Translational English In Theological Compositions For More Effective Communication: Some Basic Considerations
Author: Ernst R. Wendland

Conspectus 37:1 (April 2024) p. 6

The Use Of Translational English In Theological Compositions For More Effective Communication: Some Basic Considerations

Ernst R. Wendland

Stellenbosch University

About The Author

Ernst R. Wendland earned a B.A. in Biblical Languages from Northwestern College (USA), an M.A. in Linguistics and a Ph.D. in African Languages and Literature from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master of Sacred Theology from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Ernst lived in Zambia from 1962 until his retirement in 2022 from his teaching position at Lusaka Lutheran Seminary (since 1968). A former UBS Translation Consultant in Zambia, he still serves (since 1999) as Professor Extraordinary in the Department of Ancient Studies at Stellenbosch University and as Adjunct Professor (thesis supervisor-examiner) at South African Theological Seminary and three other graduate schools. Ernst is on the editorial/review board of several academic journals. His research and writing interests include various aspects of Bible translation as well as structural, stylistic, poetic, and rhetorical studies in biblical texts and the Bantu languages of South-Central Africa. [email protected]

This article: https://www.sats.ac.za/conspectus/translational-english-theological https://doi.org/10.54725/conspectus.2024.1.1

Abstract

This pedagogical study seeks to address the practical problem of communication in English when composing or providing theological literature for non-first-language readers. This includes materials on important biblical topics, current teaching resources, or Bible translations to be used as a source text. This article identifies some major problem areas that have been identified for composing theological works. It also proposes some strategies for using translational English to deal with them. A translational English text is an original or re-composed text that is not only more understandable in English but also more readily rendered in a non-Western language (e.g., Chichewa). At the end of the article, the reader has a chance to apply these principles and procedures. They are supplied with a short sample text from a recent popular missiological book, intended for translation in Malawi, to critique. The aim is to foster a frank discussion of these issues and to encourage concerted efforts either to develop new or to seek out existing literature that will communicate more effectively—that is, with greater ease and overall comprehension, whether orally or in writing.

Keywords

Theological composition, communication, translation, Africa, English

Conspectus 37:1 (April 2024) p. 7

1. Introduction

This study is the produc...