From: anonymous@hmivax.humgen.upenn.edu (Liz Broadwell)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.catholic
Subject: Re: English translation
Date: 16 Oct 92 20:05:48 GMT
Organization: Society of Independent Newswaifs

In article <1992Oct15.231550.1817@erenj.com>, bdboyle@erenj.com (Bryan D. 
Boyle) writes:
> Just for the record, the pertinent phrases (from the Latin):
> 
> 1) "Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem descendit de
> caelis."
> 
> 2) "...Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine: ET HOMO
> FACTUS EST."
> 
> I wonder if the same shoddy preparation will be done for these 
> "inclusive" changes as was done to justify the Pauline mass?

Um, what's wrong with translating "homo" as "human being"?  It always seemed to
me that these particular phrases were trying for that kind of "inclusiveness"
-- i.e. the Church has always emphasized the humanity of Christ rather than his
maleness.  Now, if the word "vir" -- which refers, so far as I am aware,
specifically to male human beings -- were used in either of these phrases,
particularly number 2, then I could see objecting to the change because an
important connotation would be lost in the process.  But it isn't, so I don't.

(Disclaimer:  I only studied Latin for four years, and am willing to be
corrected by those more learned in the language than I.)

From my point of view, a more pertinent objection to saying "for us and for our
salvation" is that the "us" can come across as sounding exclusive -- for us
(Christians), for us (present here).  On the other hand, as a student of
language, I'm well aware that the connotations of the word "man" are well into
the process of becoming much narrower than they used to be.  I'm neither
surprised nor perturbed by this event; it happens all the time.  Back during
the dawn of English, for example, the word "wif(e)" meant "woman" regardless of
marital status, but over time its field of meaning was narrowed to "married
woman."  If the Church is to continue spreading the Good News of salvation to
all peoples at all times, we have to keep a sharp eye on whether the words
which we use to communicate that News are doing the job.  In that vein, I think
saying that God "became human" covers the necessary theological territory and
removes a stumbling-block from before the feet of those who understand the word
"man" in its new, narrower meaning.

We can, of course, argue whether the word "man" actually is undergoing the kind
of change which I describe above, but that's a discussion to be moved to a
linguistics mailing list or sci.lang.  I can only say that from where I stand
-- I am a graduate student in English studying medieval literature and teaching
composition to first-year students, who tries to keep up with what's going on
with language in the world at large in order to be able to teach people to
communicate effectively -- such a change appears to be well-advanced.  Evidence
provided on request (although I may have to beg for a little leeway -- right
now I'm studying for my second round of comps, the dreaded field exam, and I'm
neck deep in Middle English verse and prose romances.  If the Spirit moves any
of you to pray for me, I'd certainly appreciate it! :-)


* Liz Broadwell (by643@cleveland.freenet.edu) ***************************
* Department of English                       *   Cor ad Cor Loquitur   *
* The University of Pennsylvania              ***************************
                                    
Newman Centenary Celebration * 1893-1993 * 100 Years of Campus Ministry!
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