Dear Piya,
op 18-08-2003 18:11 schreef Piya Tan op libris@...:

> What I mean is when
> we present the Buddha Word our purpose is to bring happiness, peace and
> possibly liberation to the reader's mind. As such, our language should be as
> contemporary as possible but not being too technical.

N: Very good you stress this. We are so much struggling with the texts that
we would forget this.
The translator has an impossible task: in Pali the words imply a deep
meaning, and there are word associations which are important. In a
translation these could get lost. That is why I would always need the Pali
next to the English. Take the words upadhi and nirupadhi: they can be
translated as clinging and detachment. But, then we miss something. They
include the deep meaning of clinging to the substratum of life, to rebirth
and cessation of clinging to birth. They include the noble Truths!
We often need the help of commentaries, otherwise we do not know what is
meant by certain words. We have to think of so many factors. We can begin
with a litteral translation, and then make it more free, but, we shall never
be ready. We have to find a middle way. We also have a great responsability,
being careful not to distort the original meaning as intended by the ancient
Theravada tradition. We have to think of generations to come.
Nina.