User talk:Phillip J
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[edit] a simple request
Please read this: [1]. Thank you. Adriatikus 08:12, 5 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Hebrew translation of Christian religious material
Phillip J, your translation request is a complex matter worthy of consideration. The best help I can give you is the following assessment:
- As languages, Hebrew and English are quite dissimilar, making a simple dictionary-based or automated translations between the two only a rough approximation, often fraught with distortions.
- Religious terminology, especially regarding tenets of belief, is highly specific for each language. Parallel terminology may exist between English and Hebrew terms for basic words when used in a religious context (e.g. commemorate, eternal, often), besides the religion-specific (e.g. sacrament, communion, Lord), but only a qualified lexicon developed by knowledgable scholars would indicate the correct choice; a bilingual dictionary generally does not indicate this context.
- A responsible translator will not undertake work in an unfamiliar field with its own lexicon, as the result is almost sure to be inadequate. This is all the more serious a consideration when the intended readership and purpose of the target (translated) text is unknown to the translator.
- Due to the Christian religion's particular interest in the Hebrew language, a suitable lexicon (and perhaps even an extant translation of your text) is likely to already exist.
- If the source text comes from a particular Christian church, its adherents conversant in Hebrew would perhaps be the only translators capable of rendering an authentic, faithful Hebrew version of your source text.
As it happens, I'm presently living as a refugee with only limited time and resources for Wikipedia editing. The latter must necessarily remain minimal for what I anticipate will be weeks and months while I'm trying to maintain and reconstruct my life and livelihood, so I'm unfortunately unable to help you further in your search for a translation. I hope my remarks have been enlightening and helpful. Feel free to write back with your response to the above, if you require further clarifications.
One further admonition in light of what I've outlined above: if you do obtain a less authoritative translation, please exercise caution and use it responsibly. Too often the careless use of language in the service of religion, even with the purest and noblest of intentions, has led to misunderstandings, hatred and even mass bloodshed.-- Good luck, Deborahjay 05:55, 7 August 2006 (UTC)
- Follow-up:
- Upon checking my watchlist, I noticed you've removed your previous request for English-Hebrew translation. I appreciate this, as my Wikipedia activity is severely limited for the foreseeable future. More to the point, I'm unqualified to translate into Hebrew, doing so only in my field of expertise and under highly unusual circumstances.
- As I want to keep track of my past and ongoing activity, I've restored your remarks on my User talk page while noting your subsequent action. I hope you have no objection. -- Good luck, Deborahjay 15:23, 20 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Invitation to join Wikipedia:WikiProject Eastern Orthodoxy
Hi there! I've noticed that you've edited articles pertaining to the Eastern Orthodox Church. I wanted to extend an invitation to you to join the WikiProject dedicated to organizing and improving articles on the subject, which can be found at: WikiProject Eastern Orthodoxy. This WikiProject was begun because a need was perceived to raise the level of quality of articles on Wikipedia which deal with the Eastern Orthodox Church.
You can find information on the project page about the WikiProject, as well as how to join and how to indicate that you are a member of the project. Additionally, you may be interested in helping out with our collaboration of the month. I hope you'll consider joining and thank you for your contributions thus far! —A.S. Damick talk contribs 03:48, 8 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Notes
Hello, could you elaborate the notes you've added in Jesuit China missions (add publisher, date of publication etc) when you've got time? There is one just stating "Clark, p.32", without indicating what book is referring. Thanks a lot!--K.C. Tang 16:22, 7 December 2006 (UTC)
