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Translation technique in the Peshitta to Ezekiel 1-24, incorporating a frame semantic approach / Godwin Mushayabasa

The aim of this study is to develop a more effective translation technique analysis of
the Peshitta to Ezekiel text that would contribute to the textual studies of Ezekiel. In
order to help provide such an effective analysis on translation technique, the
methodology employed is the comparative analysis of texts, which incorporates the
theory from Cognitive Semantics called Frame Semantics. This theory views units of
meaning in text or speech contexts at the level of semantic frames and is therefore
most ideal in view of the idiomatic nature of the Peshitta translation.
By applying this theory, the frames in the Hebrew source text of the translator were
compared to those in the translator’s target Syriac text, to see whether there were
correspondences between the two frames. In chapter 3, the GIVING frames evoked
by נתן (nātan) were studied and it was found that most of the frames in the Hebrew
text corresponded well with those in the Syriac target text. The exception is mainly
those frames in which there might have been textual difficulties in the source text.
Similar observations were made in chapter 4 for the ARRIVING frames evoked by the
Hebrew verb בוא (bō). However, nouns associated with the frame MISDEEDS
presented some problems, mainly as to their use in the Hebrew source text. The use
of these nouns could have affected the translator’s understanding of such
categories, leading to their inconsistent representation in the target text.
Nevertheless, it can be indicated that the translator demonstrated a relatively good
understanding of the use of the nouns in the Hebrew text. Overall, the translation of
the Peshitta to Ezekiel was made at the approximate level of semantic frames,
displaying a translation technique that should be very useful for the textual studies of
the Book of Ezekiel. / PhD (Semitic Languages), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/10207
Date January 2013
CreatorsMushayabasa, Godwin
PublisherNorth-West University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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