Evaluation of Translation and Interpretation of the Dangme Bible
Issue: Vol.2 No.5 December 2020 Article 2 pp. 109-115
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/motbit.2020122 | Published online 18th December 2020.
© 2020 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
A critical reading of the Dangme translation of the Bible revealed that there are translation problems of some texts that affect the understanding and application of such texts in the religio-cultural context of Dangme Bible readers. Using the mixed method of research and the mother tongue biblical hermeneutics approach, the author sought to research some phrases of three of such problematic texts: Matt 6:12; Mark 1:12; Luke 24:25. The findings are that among Dangme Bible readers, kε ke (Grk. afes, forgive, let go) in Matt 6:12 matches better with tɔmi ɔmε (wrongdoings, sins) rather than hiɔ ɔmε (Grk. ofeileemata, debts); in Mark 1:12, ha nε e ho (permitted him to go) is a better rendition of the Greek ekballoo (threw out/cast out); in Luke 24:25, Oo nyε juεmi he jɔ, (your mind has become cold) tones down the insult in anoeetoi translated as kuasiahi. The author’s translation of the texts would go a long way in helping Dangme Bible readers understand the said texts in context. The paper has thus, added Dangme translations and interpretations of Matt 6:12, Mark 1:12 and Luke 24:25 to the existing translations and interpretations of the texts.
Keywords: Dangme Bible, translation, interpretation, mother tongue
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Jonathan Edward Tetteh Kuwornu-Adjaottor (PhD), is an Associate Professor of New Testament and Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics at the Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
Kuwornu-Adjaottor , J.E.T., “Evaluation of Translation and Interpretation of the Dangme Bible.” Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology 2, no.5(2020): 109-115. https://doi.org/10.38159/motbit.2020122
© 2020 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Publishers. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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