Svenska Bibelsällskapets provöversättning i ett internationellt perspektiv.

Abstract

This article examines the Swedish test translation of Luke 9:51–19:28 and Galatians, which was published by the Swedish Bible Society in 2015. It analyzes how and to what extent the translators apply the fundamental translation principle (moderate formal equivalence) and the six translation directives (on concordance, figures of speech, rhythm, modern language, gender-inclusive language, and faithfulness towards cultural differences) set forth by the Bible Society. It also compares the translation with a current international discussion on Bible translation. Although the directives are often ill-defined and too brief, the translators generally follow them satisfactorily. They could, however, have gone further in their application of concordance and gender-inclusive language. The translation directive on rhythm is especially difficult to implement, since it is incomprehensible without a broader discussion on sound quality, repetition, rhythm, and style and how these interact to convey the meaning of ancient texts, which were regularly composed for oral delivery.

The Swedish Bible Society has made a bold decision—and one that is warranted by conclusions drawn from an international discussion on Bible translation—in aiming for a moderate functional equivalent translation which employs gender-inclusive language of a basic type (when the meaning of the source text in clearly gender-inclusive, even if it is expressed with gender-specific language). Much remains to be done in terms of explaining why and how the next major Swedish Bible translation should have these characteristics, yet from the reasoning in this article the decision is both timely and well-founded.