The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-15
TRANSLATION
OF BIBLE is
TALK TOPIC
Professor E. ]. GOodspeeds
Translation Into Everyday
English Criticised
SUBJECT CRITICISED
All TRANSACTIONS Subject to
Severe Criticism Accord
ing to Records

Chicago, Sept. 15.-While minis
tiers and laymen are discussing the
translation of the new testament by
Professor E. j. Goodspeed, Univer-
sity of Chicago, into every day Eng
lish, long row of ancient Bibles at
at the Newberry Library here offers
evidence that the same controversy
has been going on at least 600 years,
according to Pierce Bueier, authority
on early printing.
The NewbeFry contains virtually
all the originals on the subject Of
! how the Bible should be rendered il
English. Many of them are sugges.
tive of the old days when translatine
the Bible did more than cause criti'
cism of the translators.
The first one published in Englisf
was Wiclif's new testament, 1880
manuscripts of which are extremel.
rare. The only reason that Wicli1
died in his bed was that he had 81
many followers pat nobody daret
touch him, said Mr.. Butler. Lik'
Professor Goodspeed, Wiclif and nj
disciples wanted translation il
every day speech.
This is an explanation from tn
60-page defense Of the plan which
appeared in later editions: First j
is knowe that the best translation il
out of Latyn into English, to trans
tlate after the sentence, and no
oneN after the worlds, so that tn
sentence be as opin, either openere
in English as in Latyn, and go no
fer fro the lettre."
Ancient Manuscript.
Although this ancient manuscript
is not at the Newberry, the Bible O
the next man who tried his hand a
what he called ''plough boy English
was William Tyndale, who later me
death for his act. Not the least Q
the criticisms made against him wa
that he eliminated various term
dear to the hearts of the clergy.
Then came Myles Coverdale, 1853
who got out an English edition wit
the authority of the king and wit
the beloved terms replaced. Tw
years later came the so-called Gres
Bible. g.
! There are many other Bibles
the Newberry collection that reca
vigorous criticism. The Bishop
Bible, 1868, pleased as a translation
but the pictures shocked the devon
-Leda with her swans sprawle
ACROSS a page, and cut of the Eal
of LEICESTER, whose relation to til
subject was considered somewhs
dubious.
The Geneva Bible, translated b
Protestant refugees after the acce!
sion of Queen Mary, still bears tn
name Of "The Brooches Bible" b,
cause in the story of Adam and Ey
the first man and woman are said
have made Themselves breeches frol
fig leaves. The Douai Bible was prin
ed by English Catholics in 1609-1
refugees in their turn. This versio
is said to be an almost literal tran!
lation Of the Latin Vulgate.
Rosin Bible.
1t is sometimes known as the "ro'
in Bible" because Ire familiar lin
"There is no balm in Giliad,"
translated 'There is no rosin
Giliad." In another version the col
struction is "There is, no treacle
Giliad."
GAIL translations should be ma,
into every day ENGLISH" Mr.. Butl
said. Modern scholars know tn
the Greek Of the new testament
vernacular Greek, that is, thee Gree
Of the people, and not the literal
language. Why, then should h
English translatiors be in home
every day speech?"