Translating the Book of Psalms in Quenya - Miscellanea
I thought of a discussion where some points concerning my ongoing translation of the Book of Psalms in Parmaquesta could be discussed. Topics could range from reuse of proper names from the Legendarium as common names to required phonological adaptations, Quenya names for God in the Psalms, etc.
I'll start with a short remark: this week, I hit what is so far the most annoying verse I had to translate. Indeed, Ps. 45:9 is as follow in the New Revised Standard Version:
> "your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;"
Here, we get at least 4 unattested (and unlikely to be ever attested) names: myrrh, aloes (i.e. aloe), cassia (or cinnamon) and ivory.
The adopted solutions vary:
- Myrrh: this word (and its Latin and Grek cognates) comes from a Semitic root meaning "bitter" (cf. Heb. mar adj. “bitter” & mōr n. “myrrh”). Hence a meaning "bitter-fragrance" seemed appropriate, yielding Q. sáranis, sáraníþ-, from Q. sára adj. “bitter”, and niþ- v. “*to smell sweetly".
- Aloe: this word (and its Latin and Grek cognates) comes from a Dravidian root whose meaning I've been unable to find. Hence, I've resorted to phonological adaptation from Tulu agilu̥, yielding Q. ailu.
- Cinnamon: this word (and its Latin and Grek cognates) comes from a Semitic root whose meaning I've been unable to find. Hence, I've resorted to phonological adaptation from Heb. qinnāmōn, yielding Q. cinnámon _.
- Ivory: from Q. _rasco "horn", variant of rassë (id.), and taken as meaning more specifically "tusk" if such a word is ever needed, I've derived a word *rascë, meaning "horn (as material)", by extension "ivory". (NB: a long etymological investigation didn't produce anything more convincing.)
Tamas Ferencz Jul 20, 2018 (15:01)
Damien Bador Jul 21, 2018 (14:27)
Tamas Ferencz Jul 21, 2018 (16:51)