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 Deuteronomy 12:11

Notice that Revised Standard Version, following the Hebrew text, places the main verb you shall bring in the middle of the sentence. A more normal and intelligible ordering of the sentence is found in Good News Translation: “The LORD will choose a single place where he is to be worshiped.” However, in languages that do not use the passive voice, we may say, for example, “… where you must worship him.” This verse repeats essentially verses 5-6. Here the verb make … dwell is used with his name, whereas in verse 5 the verb is “put.” The figure of speech is different, but the action is the same.

All that I command you: Moses is the speaker.

The list of sacrifices and offerings here is the same as in verse 6, except that here “freewill offerings” are not included. And where verse 6 has simply “your votive offerings,” here a fuller phrase is used: all your votive offerings which you vow to the LORD. The phrase is redundant, since a votive offering is something that is vowed. The verb “to vow” means to promise or to dedicate. The Hebrew is literally “your choice votive offerings.” New Revised Standard Version has “all your choice votive gifts which you vow to the LORD.” Good News Translation has “those special gifts that you have promised to the LORD.” Revised Standard Version fails to represent the adjective “choice” (Good News Translation “special”).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .