LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 24:12 December 2024
ISSN 1930-2940

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         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
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         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

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Significance of Gender-Neutrality Concept in Translation:
A Study Based on Holy Scripture

Leo W Simon, M.A., Research Scholar and Dr. Darwin L, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.

Abstract

Gender neutrality is the idea that demands that language, and social system shouldn’t marginalize human beings according to their sex and gender. Consequently, gender neutrality is an important concept in the translation sphere too. Because most translators knowingly or unknowingly ignore the prominence of gender issues during the translation, and they provide gender-accurate translation styles without acknowledging cultural and gender issues. This study tries to analyse the gender neutrality concept in Bible Translation since the Bible is generally written from the patriarchal perspective. The study is based upon the The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV). NRSV Bible, to some extent, incorporates the concept of gender neutrality in the translation. The methodology used here is, Gender liberation theories because from the linguistic perspective these theories analyzed through the lens of how language reflects, constructs, and potentially liberates/removes gender identities. The article aims to find out the positives and negatives of gender neutrality concept in Bible translation. This study will present the usage of gender neutrality concept in Bible translation and will provide an inclusive approach towards translation irrespective of gender hierarchy.

Keywords: Gender Neutrality, Holy Scripture, NRSV Bible, Gender Neutrality in Translation, Translation Accuracy, Gender liberation Theories.

Introduction

The concept of gender neutrality aims to create a society and environment where gender is not a defining factor in how people are treated, opportunities they receive, or roles they are expected to fulfill. According to Singh. S and Deepanjali (2023), Gender Neutrality is the concept that states that society should not treat people based on their genders but rather on their capabilities, regardless of whether they are male or female. Gender neutrality can also have implications in the field of translation, as it challenges traditional gendered language structures and encourages more inclusive and neutral representations in translated texts.

The current study analyses the usage of gender neutrality concept in the Holy Scripture from the translation perspective. Translating the Holy texts from the source to the target language is complex. Several cultural, linguistic, and social mismatches occur during the translation. Especially from the cultural perspective, the target language reader will miss the original message of the source text if he/she finds any cultural mismatches. Gender issues are a significant concern in translation when we look through the lenses of culture. Bible translations are also not free from these gender issues. Gender issues in Bible translations constitute a significant concern for Bible translators, and women readers of the Bible experience inequalities when they read it. The study focuses on the NRSV Bible which includes the concept of Gender Neutrality in translation. The NRSV Bible is the New Revised Standard version of Bible and is the updated version of RSV Bible. One of its peculiar features is inclusion of Gender Neutrality approach in translation (Bruce Metzger, 2024).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Leo W Simon, M.A.
Research Scholar, Department of Linguistics
University of Kerala
leo92tvm@gmail.com

Dr. Darwin L, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.
Head of the Department (Assistant Professor)
Department Of Linguistics, University of Kerala
darwin@keralauniversity.ac.in
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