formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:1

The pronoun We here is clearly contrasted with you (plural) and so does not include the readers of the letter.

We want you to know: in some languages it will be more natural to say “We want to inform you” or “Let us tell you.”

Brethren: on the translation of this as “brothers and sisters” (New Revised Standard Version) and “friends” (Revised English Bible), see the comments on 1.8. For languages that require a possessive pronoun with kinship terms such as “brother,” the pronoun “our” may be added, as in Good News Translation. Since Paul writes in the first person singular in verses 3, 8, and 10, it is possible that my “brothers” (God’s New Covenant) reflects Paul’s thought here. In any case it will probably be more natural in most languages to place the term of address at the beginning of the sentence, as in Good News Translation, rather than in the middle, even though the Revised Standard Version structure reflects the Greek.

The grace of God which has been shown: here and in 9.14 grace refers to God’s action in the lives of the Christians that causes them to be generous toward others. On grace see also the comments on 1.2, 12. Some languages will find it unnatural to say that grace was shown. A more natural translation may be similar to that of Revised English Bible, “about the grace that God has given.” Or another way to avoid the passive form may be to say “about the way in which God has shown his grace….”

The churches: on translating churches see comment on 1.1. Note, however, that here and throughout the rest of this letter (8.18, 19, 23, 24; 11.8, 28; 12.13), the word is plural, referring to local assemblies of believers.

Macedonia was a Roman province that included the cities of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Beroea. See comments on 1.16. It may be wise to add the classifier term “province” in many languages.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .