Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Luke 1:79)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 1:79:

  • Noongar: “when the sun is shining from the Country of God, on all people sitting in the dark shadow of death, and he will keep our feet on the path of peace.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “He came to shine in the hearts of the people who are in darkness and who are afraid, fearing death. He leads us in the way/path that goes towards goodness of life.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This light shines for all who live in the darkness, for the people who are afraid to die, and he directs us (incl.) to the way towards peace.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “It is as if we are living in that which is very dark because we are very much afraid of punishment which is death without end. But when our Lord comes He will shine upon us with His favor and He will show us the way to live in peace,’ said Zechariah.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because when he comes, he will illuminate the people who are staying in darkness who are afraid to die and he will teach us the path-we -are-to-take so that our minds will be peaceful.’ Thus said Zekarias in prophesying.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because he will enlighten those who are living in darkness, who are like subjects/under-the-rule of death for they have no hope. And he will teach us the path which goes to peace/shelter.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 1:80)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 1:80:

  • Noongar: “The child grew very well, strong in body and spirit. John remained in the desert until the day he came publicly to the people of Israel.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “That child of Zakharia, the older he got, the clearer his heart got. He lived in the desert, until the time came for him to begin carrying the Word of the Lord to the descendants of Israel.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then the child of Jakariya continued to grow and his thinking increased. And he lived there in the lonely place as long as he did not come out to face the people of Isra’il.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for this child of Zechariah, his body grew and his ability to think increased also, and when he became mature he went to a land where no people lived, and there he stayed until the time arrived for him to teach his fellow descendants of Israel about the Word of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Now as for his son, he grew-up and became-wiser while simultaneously his faith became-stronger. He went to stay in a place where there were no inhabitants until the time-arrived -for-him-to-appear to teach the descendants of Israel.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, that child grew-big and his nature/ways were really good. When he was old enough, where he lived/spent-all-his-time was then the wilderness, until the day when he would begin to go teaching his fellow-countrymen who were the descendants of Israel.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 2:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 2:1:

  • Noongar: “Now King Augustus wanted to see how many people were living in his country.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “At that time, a command came from Kaisar Agustus, commanding that people in all the kingdom of Roma have their names written so that they know their manyness/number.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “At that time Agustus was the leader-king of the tribe of Roma. So-then he gave an order that all the people in all places under his rule should register.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “While Augustus was still king in the village of Rome, he made a law that all the people in the kingdoms which were subject to him should register themselves in a census.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “At that time, Emperor (loan Emperador) Augustus in Rome commanded that all the people in his jurisdiction go to register (lit. get-themselves-listed).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “At that time, the Romano Impiradur who was Agusto ordered that all the people under the rule of Roma should be censused.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 2:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 2:2:

  • Noongar: “This was the first writing of the names of all people. This happened when Quirinius was ruler of Syria.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “This first counting of the people was made at the time Kirenius was governor in Siria land.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This is the first time that people were registered, and at the time of registering Kirinu was governor in the place Suriya.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This was the first taking of census while Quirinius was governor of the province of Syria.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This first census, it was done in the governorship of Kirinio in Syria.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This first census was done when Cirenio was governor of Siria.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 2:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 2:3:

  • Noongar: “All the people went to their own town, their ancestors’ town. There, they wrote their names on the paper.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “All people went requesting their names to be written, each to the town of their parents.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “For that reason all people went back to the place of their ancestors to register.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And in the census it was necessary that each person be registered in the village of his ancestors.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So each one (lit. one and one) went to the town of his ancestors to go register there.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore all the people went to whichever town was the town of their parents/ancestors, to be censused there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Central Tunebo: (verses 3-5) “Everyone went to his own city to be counted. Joseph also went to be counted. Joseph was from the land of Galilee. He was from the city of Nazareth. Joseph’s grandfather is David. He is David’s relative. As a result he went to David’s city to be counted. He went to Bethlehem to be counted. In the city of Bethlehem. He went with Mary. Joseph would soon marry Mary. Mary was pregnant. They went together, with Mary.” (“The typical narrative text in Tunebo introduces 3 or 4 information bits in the first sentence. This includes the predicate and subject and, where appropriate, the object. A locative element is quite often introduced, too. From there, new information bearing on the stage or opening event is introduced, usually at the rate of one new bit per sentence, keeping the main verb constant.” Source: Edna Headland in Notes on Translation, 58/1975, pp. 2ff.)

complete verse (Luke 2:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 2:4:

  • Noongar: “Joseph left Nazareth, a Galileean town, and went to Bethlehem, a town in Judea. King David had been born in Bethlehem. Joseph went to Bethlehem because he was a descendant of David.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “So also Yusuf left from Nazaret town, accompanied by Maria his fiancee, who was at the time pregnant. They left from Galilea land, climbed going to Yudea land, towards Betlehem town, the birth town of King Daud long ago. Yusuf had to request that his name be written there, because he was a descendant of King Daud.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Yusup went from the town of Nasaret there in the place Jalil going up to the place Yahudiya to the town Betlehem the place where Sultan Da’ud was born. He went there to register because he was a descendant of Da’ud.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That was why Joseph, who lived in the town of Nazareth, in the province of Galilee, it was necessary for him to go to the province of Judea, to the town of Bethlehem, which was the village where King David was born long ago, because Joseph — he was a descendant of King David.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So also Jose, he went from Nazaret a town of Galilea to go register in Betlehem a town of Judea, because that was the town of King David who was his ancestor long ago.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well Jose also set out. Going from Nazaret in the district of Galilea, he went to Betlehem in the district of Judea, the t
    own where king David was born in the past, because Jose was a descendant of that king.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Central Tunebo: (verses 3-5) “Everyone went to his own city to be counted. Joseph also went to be counted. Joseph was from the land of Galilee. He was from the city of Nazareth. Joseph’s grandfather is David. He is David’s relative. As a result he went to David’s city to be counted. He went to Bethlehem to be counted. In the city of Bethlehem. He went with Mary. Joseph would soon marry Mary. Mary was pregnant. They went together, with Mary.” (“The typical narrative text in Tunebo introduces 3 or 4 information bits in the first sentence. This includes the predicate and subject and, where appropriate, the object. A locative element is quite often introduced, too. From there, new information bearing on the stage or opening event is introduced, usually at the rate of one new bit per sentence, keeping the main verb constant.” Source: Edna Headland in Notes on Translation, 58/1975, pp. 2ff.)

complete verse (Luke 2:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 2:5:

  • Noongar: “He and his wife Mary, the two went to Bethlehem to write their names. Mary’s people had given Mary to Joseph to marry. Mary was pregnant.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “So also Yusuf left from Nazaret town, accompanied by Maria his fiancee, who was at the time pregnant. They left from Galilea land, climbed going to Yudea land, towards Betlehem town, the birth town of King Daud long ago. Yusuf had to request that his name be written there, because he was a descendant of King Daud.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He went together with his fiancé Mariyam to register. Mariyam was pregnant.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Joseph took along with him, Mary, the woman that was promised to him, because they would register themselves. Now Mary at that time was pregnant.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Maria also went-along to go register, because it was arranged that they were to be married. Maria’s fetus was already full-term,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Maria also went with him, whom he had married, although they were not yet living together (implies sexual relations). Maria’s pregnancy was then about-full-term.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Enga: “That Maria [who was just mentioned], Josepe said he would take her as [his] woman, and he stood wooing her; because of that, while she sat, child in utero, they two went together, saying {we shall set [our] names}.” (Source: Adam Boyd on his blog)
  • Central Tunebo: (verses 3-5) “Everyone went to his own city to be counted. Joseph also went to be counted. Joseph was from the land of Galilee. He was from the city of Nazareth. Joseph’s grandfather is David. He is David’s relative. As a result he went to David’s city to be counted. He went to Bethlehem to be counted. In the city of Bethlehem. He went with Mary. Joseph would soon marry Mary. Mary was pregnant. They went together, with Mary.” (“The typical narrative text in Tunebo introduces 3 or 4 information bits in the first sentence. This includes the predicate and subject and, where appropriate, the object. A locative element is quite often introduced, too. From there, new information bearing on the stage or opening event is introduced, usually at the rate of one new bit per sentence, keeping the main verb constant.” Source: Edna Headland in Notes on Translation, 58/1975, pp. 2ff.)

complete verse (Luke 2:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 2:6:

  • Noongar: “They both came to Bethlehem, then the time happened for Mary bearing her baby.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “While they were in Betlehem, the time arrived for Maria to give birth.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then, while they were there in Betlehem the time came for Mariyam to give birth.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And while they were in the village of Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and while they were in Betlehem, it was time for the baby to be born (lit. come-out).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The birth coincided with their being there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)