Lost in translation? An interesting find on this week WT study. English version vs Spanish version.

by onemore 9 Replies latest jw friends

  • onemore
    onemore

    I was doing some WT reading , you know…to see what my “bro and sis” will be studying this Sunday. I was reading the Spanish version and found a new term on paragraph 19 “superintendentes itinerantes”, I thought, why “superintendentes itinerantes” as opposed to “superintendentes viajante”? as the latter is the title by which traveling overseers are called in Spanish…well, I thought…maybe all those rumors about the end of the C.O arrangement are trueafter all. I got excited thinking that I was going to “call it first” on this forum. So I decided to check up the English WT just to see what was the English version of the new term, I was expecting to see “itinerant overseer”…but I found the same, go’ol “traveling elder” which…I think still applies to “traveling overseer” or “circuit overseer”. Boomer! But wait…there was something that jump right in front of my eyes. Notice the difference:

    The WT English version paragraph 19: “They went on to serve as members of the governing body , as missionaries, and as traveling elders, and they played a key role in preaching the good news…”

    The WT Spanish version paragraph 19: “incluso llegaron a ser miembros del Cuerpo Gobernante, misioneros y superintendentes itinerantes…”

    Why “governing body ” in lower case for the English speaking JW, but “Governing Body” in upper case for the Spanish speaking JW?

    Lost in translation? Or a deliberate attempt to tame down the “claim of authority” to the English speaking JW, while maintaining the authoritative langue for the “submissive” and “obedient” Spanish speaking JW?

    Is this another case of “double standards” by the WT?

    What’s your opinion?

    Onemore.

  • onemore
    onemore

    its the July 15, 2010 WT: "Have a Full Share in the Great Spiritual Harvest" pg. 20.

  • yknot
    yknot

    hmmmm ......

    I wonder about the other languages....

    I will check french first.....bet even the WT would sound romantic in a Parisian accent

  • yknot
    yknot

    Afrikaan: lower case

    Albanian: lower case

    French: lower case

    Swedish: lower case...

    OMG Conspiracy!!!! Where is WAC!!!!

  • Life is now
    Life is now

    I think in paragraph 19 that is the Spanish translators error.

    The English publications have been putting the modern Governing Body with capitals for some time, but they have not been using capitals for the so-called governing body of the early Christians. See the next article in that July 15th 2010 Watchtower it refers to the early Christians and does not use capitals. Then in paragraph 10 and 17 it has the modern day with capitals.

    They have also done this in the "Bearing Thorough Witness..." publication.

    It appears to me that the modern Governing Body is elevating themselves above the early apostles.

  • blondie
    blondie

    When the WTS talks about the "governing body" during the first century or today's GB, it is lower case until 1971; when it is in today's time, capitalize starting in 1971.

    The WTS also changed terms like Jehovah's witnesses to Jehovah's "W"itnesses about that same time.

    Congregation servants, circuit servants, district servants became congregation overseers, circuit overseers, and district overseers.

    In 1971 the WTS brought in a "new" idea of the Governing Body but alternating the capitalization.

    *** w73 6/1 p. 341 par. 27 Keeping God’s Congregation Clean in the Time of His Judgment ***Nineteen centuries ago the apostle Peter was a member of the Governing Body of the Christian congregation of the first century C.E.

    --------------------yet

    *** w74 9/15 p. 554 He Ran for "The Prize of the Upward Call" and Won! ***On October 31, 1932, he was made a member of the board of directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania; he was also one of the eleven-member governing body of Jehovah’s witnesses.

  • Life is now
    Life is now

    I forgot to mention that it is paragraph 6 that has the early Christians with no capitals in governing body.

  • oppostate
    oppostate

    It just goes to show you how their pharisaical guidelines can get even a writer/translator at Bethel all confused.

    We're doing this and we're doing that, standard procedures to follow you know... Sad!!!

  • Mad Sweeney
    Mad Sweeney

    As mentioned, only the modern-day Governing Body is capitalized. They claim that it is because it is a proper name of an official legal body but the difference between Governing Body, holy spirit, governing body, apostles, can't possibly be lost on them.

  • sd-7
    sd-7

    It's kind of an irrelevant difference, isn't it? I think they're usually pretty consistent at putting capital letters on the current Governing Body, at least nowadays. Ah, I do rather miss reading the "Bearing Thorough Witness" book now. That one had such interesting statements about the Governing Body. Even a rare photo op. Would've been nice if they had an open WT bound volume in front of them, on top of the Bible, like they usually show in the pictures of people doing personal study.

    But nah, I'm sure that's just a meaningless difference. It's not like there's been a shortage of articles lately reminding us that the GOVERNING BODY is GOVERNING. YOUR BODY. Governing = Ruling. Ruling = What Jesus Said the Rulers of the Nations Do, But Not What His Followers Should Do. Oh, right--they took his words literally: "The greatest one among you must be your SLAVE." My mistake. Carry on...

    -sd-7

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