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. )

Honorary "are" construct denoting God (“drive out”)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, oiharaw-are-ru (追い払われる) or “drive out” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Joshua 23:13

You may be sure translates another intensive verb structure in Hebrew: “know assuredly” (Revised Standard Version). If the proposed restructuring of verse 12 is followed, then it may be necessary to begin verse 13 “If you do, you may be sure that….”

The warning against mixed marriages with the Canaanites is more specifically stated and the consequences vividly portrayed by the use of four metaphors: a trap and a pit (that is, for catching animals) are figures of temptations and dangers. The second one, a pit, may mean specifically the lure, the bait, that draws the animal or bird into the trap. A whip on your back and thorns in your eyes (see similar language in Num 33.55) are figures of troubles and difficulties.The Hebrew word translated whip occurs only here in the Old Testament; Gray and others prefer to change the Hebrew text to the plural of another word, similar in spelling, meaning “whip.” Bible de Jérusalem deems the Hebrew unintelligible and conjectures a word meaning “thorns”; Hebrew Old Testament Text Project takes the Masoretic text to mean “whip.” A whip on your back is a shortened form of “when someone beats you on the back with a whip,” and thorns in your eyes means “when you accidentally stick thorns in your eyes.”

The consequences of disloyalty described in the last sentence will be disastrous: the Israelites will not continue to possess the land but will eventually die out completely. And this will last may need to be rendered, “These terrible things will continue to happen to you….”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .