Main Menu

God's Name

Started by Eltu Lefngap Makto, January 22, 2012, 07:50:24 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

What should the Name of (Judeo-Christian) God being in Na'vi?

'Elohim
Yawe
Yawey
Eywa
'Elohim

Stranger Come Knocking

I voted for Yawey, but know that you absolutely killed me having to choose between that and 'Elohim. *glare*
I will not die for less
I dug my grave in this
Will I go before I fall
Or live to slight the odds?

These are my books.  You should check it out.  Speculative sci-fi murder mystery historical fiction.

Eltu Lefngap Makto

I would agree with your choice because 'elohim' is a the Hebrew word "gods" and not a name per se.  The Tanakh says "Don't worship the elohim of the nations" never "Don't worship the Yahweh's of the nations".  Transcribing Hebrew words isn't translating.  But transcribing names is a horse of different color.
'Ivong, Na'vi!

Alyara Arati

I voted for Yawey since that seems to be most like the name of God.  But if you were to ask me what word to use when the original text says "God" and not "Yahweh", I would use 'Elohay (singular of 'Elohim if I understand correctly).  What would you use for "Lord"?
Learn how to see.  Realize that everything connects to everything else.
~ Leonardo da Vinci

Eltu Lefngap Makto

When it's all caps, that's Yahweh in disguise.  As for the regular 'lord', I think eyktan sometimes, and maybe Nawma Sempul others ... ?  ???
'Ivong, Na'vi!

Tirea Aean

#5
I vote for "transliterate the original word from the original text when the word comes up in a verse you are currently translating"

EDIT: voted for "Yawey" because out of what's given as choices that one to me seemed best for some reason.

Eltu Lefngap Makto

Quote from: Tirea Aean on January 22, 2012, 10:05:17 PM
I vote for "transliterate the original word from the original text when the word comes up in a verse you are currently translating"

That would be Yahwey every time you see LORD.
'Ivong, Na'vi!

Niri Te

#7
Quote from: Eltu Lefngap Makto on January 22, 2012, 08:28:16 PM
I would agree with your choice because 'elohim' is a the Hebrew word "gods" and not a name per se.  The Tanakh says "Don't worship the elohim of the nations" never "Don't worship the Yahweh's of the nations".  Transcribing Hebrew words isn't translating.  But transcribing names is a horse of different color.

It is plural because it demonstrates the Triune GODHEAD. Example, Let US make man in OUR Image. Also, there are no wowels in the Hebrew of the Tanakh, to what many Jews refer to as the unutterable name of G-D, is YHWH.
Many orthodox, or conservative Jews will change Elohim to Elokim, as a sign of respect.
Niri Te
Tokx alu tawtute, Tirea Le Na'vi

Eltu Lefngap Makto

Jewish Rabbi's have long sought to explain the passage in Genesis 1 to which you refer as 'God and the angels'.  Certainly, it is no proof of the tri-unity of God.  Also, it is not so much true to say 'there are no vowels in Hebrew' as it is to say, they weren't invented until the year 1000 and are not part of modern Hebrew, except in poetry and dictionaries.

Using the plural of El, Elohim, is a indeed a sign of respect, but it is no sign of disrespect the 217 times just plain 'El' is used in the Tanakh.  'El Shaddai' is not somehow ruder than the hypothetical 'Elohim Shaddai'.

All that nitpicking aside, I do think there would need to be separate Jewish and Christian translations of the Hebrew Scriptures because we would use pxoe when God says 'we'!  :D
'Ivong, Na'vi!

rodrygo

A few month ago the word "ohelu" were discussed in this plot. what do you think about it?

Eltu Lefngap Makto

Quote from: rodrygo on January 23, 2012, 02:19:51 PM
A few month ago the word "ohelu" were discussed in this plot. what do you think about it?
I'm sorry I missed that thread!  :o
http://forum.learnnavi.org/bible/official-wording/

Only in Exodus 3 is the name of God broken down into "I Am That I Am".  The best guess is that Yahweh/LORD is actually "HE IS", our name for God not His name for himself.  Na'vi's closest would be {Luyu} or {Polu}.

It's an interesting idea, but I would leave it for Exodus 3:14 only.
'Ivong, Na'vi!

`Eylan Ayfalulukanä

The vast majority of the uses of 'God' or "Lord' in scripture are Yaweh (which I voted for). This is, as discussed, really kind of a proper name, and is fine as it is. El or Elohim is a more generic term. An argument can be made (and this is where I think TA is going as well) that we should have a separate translation for both names, as they are noticeably different in meaning. The challenge here is that the Na'vi (but for that matter so are the Jews) are monotheistic, and multiple terms for God could be (initially) confusing to them, especially when approached in Elto Lefngap Makto's translation style. For devotional reading, I would think the more literal translation would be preferred. For other terms, such as the compound El Shaddai already mentioned, this could be translated to its meaning, such as possible Eyktan aTxantur

Sp, lets use Yawey for YHWH, perhaps Tirea Eyktan for Elohim, and more descriptive names where appropriate.

The NT side of this almost deserves its own thread. But Father, Son and Holy Spirit (what should we use for 'holy'?) where these terms are used. the rest of the time, we can use Yeysu for Jesus, and Yawey for God or Lord, unless there is a better suggestion. The one departure for this would be a word to use for Christ. And I think there was discussion about this a long time ago.

Keep in mind no system will be perfect. the best thing would be to teach the Na'vi Greek and Hebrew!

Yawey ngahu!
pamrel si ro [email protected]

Tirea Aean

I would have voted for Kìristo for Christ. Best match for Χριστός

`Eylan Ayfalulukanä

Is there any reason we can't use {b]Kìrìsto[/b]? Or do we want to hold out for a word with that meaning?

Yawey ngahu!
pamrel si ro [email protected]

Tirea Aean

I was saying that I [do/would] use Kìristo wherever "Christ" shows up in the NT

Eltu Lefngap Makto

Tse ... Christos is really a substantive adjective meaning "anointed" or "christened".  The Gospel of John explicitly identifies it as a translation of Messiah.  One of my beefs with English Bible's is that you can't tell that Jesus is "anointed" in the same way David was, because of the different terminology.  If you go with Kìristo, you're privileging Greek over Hebrew.  :o
'Ivong, Na'vi!

Tirea Aean


Stranger Come Knocking

So if I wanted to say something like "Elohim, God on high" would it be something like "'Elohim, Yawey mì frato tìkxayl"? (And where to put "ma"?)
I will not die for less
I dug my grave in this
Will I go before I fall
Or live to slight the odds?

These are my books.  You should check it out.  Speculative sci-fi murder mystery historical fiction.

`Eylan Ayfalulukanä

Quote from: Eltu Lefngap Makto on January 24, 2012, 08:16:43 PM
Tse ... Christos is really a substantive adjective meaning "anointed" or "christened".  The Gospel of John explicitly identifies it as a translation of Messiah.  One of my beefs with English Bible's is that you can't tell that Jesus is "anointed" in the same way David was, because of the different terminology.  If you go with Kìristo, you're privileging Greek over Hebrew.  :o

There is no privileging going on. Both Messiah and Christ are used in the verse you are referring to, John 1:41. Since this is done in this way, this pretty much establishes that Christ is the right word wherever we find it, as God could have chosen 'Messiah' for all these places instead. (And we don't have an attested word for Messiah or Christ.) So, I think sticking to the term that best matches the Greek is the term to use.

Yawey ngahu!
pamrel si ro [email protected]

`Eylan Ayfalulukanä

Quote from: Tanhì Mì Ton on January 25, 2012, 04:03:36 PM
So if I wanted to say something like "Elohim, God on high" would it be something like "'Elohim, Yawey mì frato tìkxayl"? (And where to put "ma"?)

IMHO, you have the right idea in how you translated this, showing how we need both Yawey and Elohim. If you are addressing God (as if in prayer), you would put the ma before the beginning. Otherwise, I don't think you need a ma there at all.

In general, particles of address work in English like O (someone).

Yawey ngahu!
pamrel si ro [email protected]