Translating the English Bible: From Relevance to Deconstruction - Softcover

Philip W. Goodwin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0227173910 ISBN 13: 9780227173916

Publisher: James Clarke and Co Ltd, 2013

Synopsis

In his detailed and thought-provoking work, Philip Goodwin conducts a thorough analysis of the challenges facing the Biblical translator, with particular focus on the problematic dominance of the King James Version of the Bible in our imaginations - a dominance which has had a deleterious effect upon the accuracy and originality of the translator's work. Goodwin considers the first two chapters of the Lukan narratives in depth, comparing and contrasting a breadth of widely disparate translations and drawing on a rich body of Biblical scholarship to support his thesis. A wide-ranging discussion of other linguistic issues is also conducted, touching on such vital matters as incorporating the contextual implications of the original text, and the attempt to challenge the reader's pre-existing knowledge. Goodwin evolves a fresh and comprehensive answer to the difficulties of the translator's task, and concludes by providing his own original and charming translation of the first two chapters of Luke's Gospel. 'Translating the English Bible' provides a fascinating insight into the processes of translation and will interest anyone seeking accuracy and fidelity to the Scriptural message. It will also enlighten readers seeking a challenging translation of Luke that casts off the shackles of the 'Holy Marriage' tradition of Biblical translation. Philip Goodwin is a businessman whose career spans three decades in finance. From 2006 to 2010 he took an extended leave to study the issues addressed in this book at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. He has now resumed his financial career, leading a fund management business based in London and Nairobi. He is married with three grown up children and splits his time between London, the North of England and East Africa. 'A genuine scholarly and artistic achievement. . . A unique academic contribution to fields that are often under-theorized (on the one hand) or abstruse (on the other).' Dr Ward Blanton, University of Kent, 'The combination of deep theoretical insight and robust practicality in the actual processes of translation is extraordinary, and leads to some startling conclusions. . . . This work could be a game-changer in biblical translation practice.' Dr Todd Klutz, University of Manchester.

About this title

Review:

"Suitable for undergraduate and graduate students interested in the fields of translation, linguistics, and biblical studies [...] His exploration of Relevance Theory provides valuable insights for interpreters and translators of the biblical text." --Joshua P. Steele, Beeson Divinity School, in Theological Book Review (tbr), Vol. 25, No.2, 2013

"This book's often droll and entertaining style makes it a pleasurable read, in a way that much writing in Translation Studies is not." --Kenneth A. Cherney Jr, Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, 112.3, Summer 2015

About the Author:

The author completed a degree (First Class Honours) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, 1979-82, before embarking on a career in business. In 2006 he returned to academic work and completed an MA (Distinction) at Manchester University, in Bible in Context. This work forms the substance of his thesis for a PhD, awarded in 2010 by the University of Manchester. He has now resumed his financial career, leading a fund management business based in London and Nairobi, Kenya.

About this edition

• Publisher: James Clarke and Co Ltd
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0227173910
• ISBN 13: 9780227173916
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 246