A Glossary of Biblical Translations
The Bible is a foundational book of faith for millions of people throughout the world. The Bible consists of 66 different books that are compiled to form one manuscript. These texts are ancient stories and timelines of people dating back thousands of years. Original books of the Bible came from Hebrew writings to form the Old Testament. The New Testament was originally in Latin from about the time of the Roman Empire. The Bible has since been translated into hundreds of languages, and its words provide hope for those around the world.
Addressee: An individual to whom a letter is addressed.
Alliteration: An incident where the same sound or letter occurs at the beginning of adjoining words.
Allusion: An indirect reference to something without specifically mentioning it.
Alphabet: The standard set of letters or symbols used to represent sounds found in languages.
Anachronism: An object or a person that is in the incorrect period of time or order that it should be in.
Anaphora: Repeating a phrase or a word at the beginning of consecutive paragraphs.
Anthropomorphism: Attributing human physical characteristics to describe God.
Antithetical Parallelism: The use of terms in a poem that has opposite meaning, but is found together or repeated.
Aphorism: A brief statement of fact or observation that represents general truth.
Apocalyptic: A reference to the end of the physical world.
Apocrypha: Biblical or religious historical writings that do not appear in the original Hebrew Bible.
Apostrophe: A grammatical mark of punctuation used to show possession.
Aramaic: An ancient type of Jewish language, similar to Hebrew.
Archaism: An object or language that is very old.
Artificial Construction: The translation of terms from a text into words that are not in the natural language of that which is being translated to.
Audience: People assembled to listen or observe a particular exhibit.
Authorial Intention: The effect the author is trying to have on the reader, in order to influence their emotions or thoughts of a particular subject.
Autographs: A signature of a person written in their own handwriting.
Back Translation (BT): Translating a document that has already been translated into its original language.
Base Text: Using straightforward, simple written words in translation that are close to the original text.
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS): A version of the Hebrew Bible that is based on original Jewish language.
Biblical Languages: The original languages of the Bible in which its books were written.
Biblish: A term referring to the words of the Bible used frequently in conversation and as terms by those familiar with the Bible.
Borrowing: Using something that belongs to someone else and then returning it.
Calque: A new word made by using part of the translated language, referred to as loan translation.
Canon: A group of books or works that are considered sacred and are accepted as original.
Causal Relation: The use of writing or structuring a sentence that affects the reasoning of another hypothesis.
Chiasmus: A form of writing where words and grammar are written and then restated in the reverse order.
Choppy: A form of writing in which the words and sentences are broken up and do not flow well when reading or speaking.
Clarity: Something being clear, or being able to understand something with all confidence.
Clear: Easy to see and understand while being free of obstructions.
Cliché: A phrase or statement that is not original and is overused.
Closest Natural Equivalent: Using a word or phrase during translation that is as close to the meaning of the translated word as possible.
Coherence: A state of being logical and understanding of a situation.
Cohesion: Sticking together, or something that unites to form a whole.
Collocational Clash: A situation when words are placed together that should not exist with each other.
Colloquialism: A phrase used in typical or familiar conversation.
Commentary: A spoken description of what is happening.
Committee Translation: A translation that is done by a group of people.
Common Language Translation (CLT): A type of translation that is worded into normal, everyday language.
Communicative Accuracy: The standard in which those reading the translated version understand the meaning of the original text.
Community Testing: Native speakers reading a translated text to judge it for accuracy.
Complete Equivalence (CE): A text that is translated to be exactly the same as its original.
Comprehension Check: A test that determines if native speakers of the translated language can understand the meaning of the material.
Concordance: A set of words that have citations to related passages to uphold their meaning.
Connotation: A feeling that a particular word brings to mind as well as its literal meaning.
Construct Relationship: A method of connecting words to pronounce them as one word. This is also done by linking words with a preposition.
Construction: Building or creating a sentence out of words.
Context: The specific circumstances surrounding a particular idea or event.
Critical Apparatus: An area that gives information about modifications made in the original text.
Critical Text: Words of the New Testament that are written by deciding what words are closest to the original text.
Cultural Clash: A situation when something being translated is different from the cultural norms of the translated text.
Cultural Substitute: Replacing a word or phrase in translation with something that is more culturally appropriate.
Denotation: What a word literally means, despite what feelings it may invoke.
Descriptive Grammar: A description of how people speak.
Deuterocanonical: A term used to describe particular volumes of the Old Testament that are not a part of the Jewish Bible.
Dictionary: A reference book that supplies the meaning of words in a language.
Discourse: A type of debate or discussion about a particular subject.
Discourse Analysis: A study of debates and discussions, as well as their implications.
Disjointed: Words of a sentence or phrase that do not flow well when speaking or reading.
Donor Language: The original language that is being translated from.
Doublet: A pair of words with similar meaning that are written together in a descriptive sentence.
Dynamic: A translation using normal and accurate language, as opposed to a literal translation.
Dynamic Equivalence (DE): Translating a text so the translated words will have the same effect on the reader as the original text words would have.
Eclectic Text: Words of the New Testament that are written by deciding what words are closest to the original text.
Ellipsis: Leaving out extra words during translation while still preserving the meaning of the text.
Epistle: A short letter or text that was written between people. Several books of the New Testament are letters and are referred to as epistles.
Epistolary: The work of writing text in the form of letters.
Equivalent: The same function, or being equal in meaning and purpose.
Eschatology: The aspect of religion that studies death or the end of mankind.
Etymology: The study of how words came into meaning and how they have changed through history.
Euphemism: A phrase or saying that is used to make a remark in a more pleasant manner.
Exact Equivalence: A translation of words to be exactly the same as the original version.
Exclusive Language: Words used in translation that may omit certain members of society.
Exegesis: An analysis or interpretation of the meanings of scripture.
Exegete: The act of interpreting scriptures.
Exegetical Accuracy: The matter of how much a translated version resembles the original source of text.
Explicit Information: Information that is very clearly stated.
Expository: Attempting to provide an explanation for something.
Extended Metaphor: A figure of speech that is broadly descriptive of the aspect that it describes.
Extraneous Information: Information that is added during translation to assist in description, but that is not originally found in the source text.
Faithfulness: Being loyal or devoted to another person or belief.
Fidelity: Faithfulness or trustworthiness to one person.
Field-testing: Having the Native speakers read the translated text to determine accuracy.
Figure of Speech: A phrase that is used to describe or provide an effect for ordinary language.
Form: Creating and building a sentence out of words.
Formal Equivalence Translation (FE): Translation from the original source that keeps the language as close to the native source as possible, even if it results in awkward phrasing of the result.
Form Equivalent Translation: Translating text with words from the original that results in awkward phrasing of the resulted translations.
Free translation: A form of translation that maintains the original meaning of the source text.
Front Translation: A translation guide that incorporates the original meaning of the text, as well as any suggested information, to aid in completing the translation.
Fullness of Meaning: A method of translation that attempts to conserve all aspects of the original text.
Function: A purpose of a specific item or person.
Functional Equivalence: Translating terms so that the results serve the same function as the original source.
Functional Linguistics: The idea that the use of language should be determined solely by its function.
Gender: The state of being either male or female.
Gender Accuracy (inclusive language): Correctly translating the source text to retain its intended meaning in regards to gender.
Genitives: Nouns or pronouns denoting possession of something.
Genre: A specific category of classification in literature.
Gist: The central theme of a text or sentence.
Gloss: An explanation or interpretation of a specific sentence or phrase.
Grammar: the structure of language in how it is written, following specific rules.
Greek: The language that originates in the country of Greece.
Hearer: One who is listening when another person is reading or speaking.
Hebraism: A Hebrew expression of speech.
Hebrew: A person of the ancient culture of Jews from the Old Testament. Hebrew also refers to the language of that group of people.
Hebrew Bible: The original Old Testament of the Bible.
Hellenistic Greek: The form of Greek in which the text of the New Testament was written.
Hendiadys: Using two words together to communicate an idea. The words are frequently paired by using the word “and”.
Hermeneutics: A technique of interpreting the Bible.
Higher Criticism: The examination of Biblical scriptures and comparison of them with texts from a similar time period.
Historical Anachronism: Using words that are misplaced in terms of the historical background of the original source content.
Hortatory: that which is encouraging or exhorting.
Hyperbole: An embellished claim or exaggerated statement.
Idiom: A set of words that, when grouped together, have an illogical meaning from their original definitions.
Idiomatic Translation: A translation where the original meaning of the source is conserved as much as possible.
Illocutionary Force: The intention of the author when they write something.
Implicature: The act of meaning something besides what is originally stated.
Implied Information: Implicit information in translation that is still conveyed.
Implicit Information: Information that is implied when stated or translated.
Inadequate Meaning: Translating something from the source text that is incorrect.
Inclusive Language: Language that includes all members of society in its writing.
Inspiration: An influence or motivation to create or work at something.
Intention: The meaning behind a specific act.
Interlinear Translation: A translation where the words are matched with their source text word-by-word, and displayed as such.
Interpretation: An explanation for the meaning behind words or text.
Interpretive Translation: A translation that preserves the meaning behind the original text vs. translating directly word for word.
Interpropositional relation (IPR): A link of two clauses together in text.
Irony: A state that is opposite of what one would assume or expect to happen.
Jargon: Words or phrases used by a group of people that are difficult for others to understand.
KJV-Onlyism: The opinion that the King James Version of the Bible is the only acceptable text.
Koine Greek: The regional language of Greece in which the original New Testament was written.
Language: Communication between people, either in the written word or by speaking.
Lexicography: The work of assembling a dictionary.
Lexicon: A dictionary or a resource of vocabulary.
Linguistically Possible Translation: A translation where the ultimate result is practical for the language it was translated into.
Linguistics: The study of language and how it is used.
Literacy: The ability to read and write.
Literal Translation: Translation where the meaning of the source text is preserved, even if the words do not follow standard forms.
Literal-idiomatic Translation: A translation where the original meaning of the text is retained while providing a sentence structure that still follows natural forms.
Litotes: A phrase where a negative word is reversed to form a positive one.
Loan Translation: Using a portion of the original text and translating them exactly instead of using a word from the native language.
Loan Word: Called a calque, this is a new word that is made from part of the translated language.
Logical Relation: The relations between the components of thought or discussion that make it reasonable or understandable.
Lower Criticism: The study of the Bible in terms of searching for a correct version of text.
LXX: An abbreviation used to refer to the Septuagint.
Macrostructure: The central theme of a paragraph or discussion.
Majority Text (MT): Words of the New Testament determined by which kinds have the most copies available.
Manuscript: A document or book that is written and put together.
Masoretic text (MT): The text of the Jewish Bible in the Hebrew language.
Meaning: The significance or implication of something.
Meaning-based Translation (MB): A type of translation where the original meaning of the source text is preserved as much as possible.
Meiosis: An understatement or litote.
Metaphor: A phrase used to describe something to which it literally does not apply.
Metonymy: Replacing the name of an object or situation with that of what it means.
Model Text: Dynamic language that is added to the everyday translated text.
Morpheme: A basic component of language that cannot be further broken down.
Morphology: Studying how words are formed.
Mother Tongue Translator (MTT): A person who speaks the native language of what is translated.
Multivalence: Having many interpretations or meanings.
Narrative: A spoken story or account of events that occurred.
Native Translator: A person who is a mother tongue translator and speaks the native language of the translated text.
Natural: Being in consensus with someone or a situation.
Neologism: A newly created word or phrase.
Nestle-Aland Text: A text of the Greek language that uses translated words that are the closest to the original.
Obsolescent: Something that is declining or dying out.
Onomatopoeia: A word that has a name identified by its sound.
Oral Language: The spoken language.
Original Texts: The signature or writing of a person by his or her own hand.
Orthography: Putting letters together to spell words in a language.
Other Tongue Translator (OTT): A person who assists the translation team but does not speak the native language.
Parable: A story told to explain a spiritual lesson.
Parallelism: The use of the same sentence structure in equivalent clauses.
Paraphrase: To provide meaning for lengthy text by explaining it in less words.
Partial Meaning: A translation that expresses an incomplete meaning of the original source text.
Periphrasis: Using two words to show a grammatically correct association that is otherwise shown by inflection.
Perlocutionary Force: The effect that speaking has on those who listen to it.
Personification: Attributing human characteristics or personality to something that is not human.
Perspicuity: Something that is clearly understood.
Phrase: A group of words together to form a statement or sentence.
Plain English: The natural and straightforward English language.
Polyvalence: Something that has several different purposes or forms.
Possession: The state of being in ownership of something.
Pragmatics: The study of language within its frame of reference.
Précis: A synopsis of a document.
Prescriptive Grammar: The guidelines for how a language is spoken.
Readability: A text that can be read and understood.
Reading Level: An evaluation of how well a text can be read and understood.
Received Text: The Greek New Testament wording that is similar to the text that was translated to the King James Version of the Bible.
Receptor language (RL): The language that an original text is translated into.
Regionalism: An aspect of language that is characteristic of a specific place.
Register: The social measure of the translation.
Relevance Theory (RT): Logic that comes from real or implied information as related to language and speaking.
Repartee: Conversations that include banter or witty sayings.
Repetition: The act of restating or retelling something.
Rhetorical Impact: The effect that speaking has on the person listening.
Rhetorical Parallelism: A form of poetry found within the Bible that uses parallel phrases.
Rhetorical Question: A question that does not expect an answer.
Rhythm: A regular and repeating pattern of sound in language.
Sarcasm: Using wit or irony to ridicule a situation.
Schoolbook Grammar: Similar to prescriptive grammar, these are the guidelines for how a language is spoken.
Semantics: The meaning behind a specific sentence or phrase.
Semiotics: Studying symbols and their meanings.
Semiticism: A form of Hebrew used by the Greek language of the New Testament.
Septuagint: A Greek translation of the Old Testament.
Simile: Comparing one thing to another that is dissimilar.
Source Language (SL): The original language that is being translated.
Synecdoche: The use of one word to represent a whole concept.
Synonym: A word that has the same definition as another word in the same language.
Synonymous: Two words that have the same meaning within the same language.
Synonymous Parallelism: The use of phrases or words that are synonyms to describe a particular situation.
Syntactic Function: The use of correct grammar when building a sentence.
Syntax: The order of words to create a sentence.
Tanakh: The title of the Hebrew Bible from the Jewish language.
Target Language (TL): The language that a text is being translated into.
Text: Printed words or phrases of a language that are found in a book or manuscript.
Textual Criticism: Determining which version of translated copies are the most similar to the source text.
Textus Receptus (TR): A Latin term describing the Greek New Testament wording that is similar to the text translated to the King James Version.
Theological Terms: Words describing religious ideas found in the Bible.
Thought-for-thought Translation: The original text is translated into phrases or thoughts with similar meanings.
Transculturation: Translation of text using terms so that the meaning is inclusive of all cultures.
Translation: The act of rendering words of one language into another.
Translation Theory: The study of translation and languages.
Translationese: Abnormal wording that appears in translation because of indirect phrasing or syntax.
Transliteration: Using the nearest equivalent letters of a separate language or alphabet.
Trope: Using a word or phrase in a figurative sense.
UBS text: The text of the New Testament that uses words that are close to the original.
Understandable: Something that is clear and enables others to comprehend its meaning.
Understatement: minimizing something as being less important that it really is.
Utterance: A spoken word or sound of a language.
Vernacular Translation: A translation into everyday language that is easy to understand.
Vulgar: That which is considered rude or offensive.
Vulgate: The official version of the Bible, originally in Latin and accepted by the Roman Catholic Church.
Word: A specific element of a sentence in a language that is grouped with others to provide meaning.
Word-for-word Translation: A translation that copies individual words while retaining the original meaning as much as possible.
Word Order: The order of words in a sentence that maintains grammatical rules.
Written Language: A language of a culture or region that is written.
Wrong Meaning: A translation that provides an inaccurate meaning.
Zero Meaning: When a translation does not have meaning for its proposed users.
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