Chinese Bible Translation with Special Reference to Greek Verbal Aspect as Exemplified in John 18-19 and 1 Corinthians 15

Abstract

This study integrates three independent subjects-translation theory, Mandarin aspect, and Greek aspect-for the purpose of formulating a working theory applicable to translating the New Testament. Aspect is treated here as a grammatical category-as opposed to Aktionsart-and is described as the locutionary agent's subjective viewpoint expressed morphologically by a verb. The primary objectives are defined in terms of grammatical translation of Greek aspect into Mandarin aspect at the discourse level. However, major Bible translation issues pertaining to lexical, phonological, formal, and functional elements, as well as translating conditional statements and figurative speech, are also considered. A historical overview of the Chinese Bible is provided as a way of introducing major issues related to linguistic, conceptual, and logistical challenges. Porter's tripartite model of aspect in Greek, defined in terms of the binary oppositions [±perfective], and [+imperfective] vs. [+stative], is adopted. Aspect in Mandarin closely resembles that in Greek, except that the privative opposition [±remote] does not exist in Mandarin. Also, unlike the tense-forms in Greek, morphologically expressed aspect morphemes (e.g. -le, IDVCs) are largely optional in Mandarin. Thus, notions of markedness and grounding become pertinent when the 0 morpheme is used instead of morphologically expressed aspect morphemes to translate all five tense-forms in Greek: the more heavily marked disyllabic verbs are preferable in translating the present and imperfect, whereas the less heavily marked monosyllabic verbs are preferable to translate the aorist. The most heavily marked four-character set phrases are utilized to reflect both the stative aspect and discourse function ofthe perfect and pluperfect as frontgrounding tense-forms. It is argued that morphologically expressed perfective and imperfective aspect morphemes are preferable to the 0 morpheme. The more heavily marked two-morpheme aspect compounds (e.g. zai...-zhe) are employed to reflect the foregrounded prominence indicated by the present and imperfect tense-forms. The proposed theory provides the translator with a powerful tool, which is tested in the two sample passages in John 18-19 and 1 Corinthians 15. Provided also are critical reviews of over sixty Chinese Bible versions, Nestorian, Manichaean, Catholic documents, and a translation written according to the proposed theory.