30.2501, Diss: Igbo; Translation: Uchenna Oyali: ''Bible Translation and Language Elaboration – The Igbo Experience''

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-30-2501. Thu Jun 20 2019. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 30.2501, Diss: Igbo; Translation: Uchenna Oyali: ''Bible Translation and Language Elaboration – The Igbo Experience''

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Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2019 12:20:46
From: Uchenna Oyali [uoyali at yahoo.com]
Subject: Bible Translation and Language Elaboration – The Igbo Experience

 
Institution: Universität Bayreuth 
Program: Dr. Phil. English Linguistics 
Dissertation Status: Completed 
Degree Date: 2018 

Author: Uchenna Oyali

Dissertation Title: Bible Translation and Language Elaboration – The Igbo
Experience 

Dissertation URL:  https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/4298/

Linguistic Field(s): Translation

Subject Language(s): Igbo (ibo)


Dissertation Director(s):
Eric A. Anchimbe
Susanne Mühleisen
Eva Spies

Dissertation Abstract:

This study posits that the translation of the Bible into the Igbo language
engendered the elaboration of the language to enable it express the ideas and
concepts borne in the Christian religion. Language elaboration, as used in
this work, refers to the expansion of the functions of a language, i.e. use of
the language in new domains, introduction of new lexical and semantic elements
to the repertoire of the language. Four research questions guided the analysis
carried out in the work: What lexical processes were adopted in creating new
terms in Bible translation into Igbo? What strategies were employed in
representing Christian concepts in the Bible translations? How have these
lexical and conceptual innovations evolved across the different translations?
How have the lexical and conceptual innovations spread among Igbo speakers? To
answer these questions, two types of analysis are carried out: a textual
analysis of a corpus of terms created and introduced into Igbo through eight
Igbo Bible translations, and an analysis of a questionnaire survey on the
spread of some of these new terms and concepts in contemporary Igbo usage.
Findings show that the Bible translations enriched the Igbo lexicon mainly
through the processes of compounding, descriptive phrases and lexical
borrowing. Secondly, the translations introduced Christian concepts into Igbo
mainly by appropriating existing terms for Igbo concepts and giving them new
significations in the Igbo Bible. Thirdly, later translations lexically and
semantically differentiated Christian concepts from traditional Igbo concepts.
They also differentiated two Christian concepts by representing them with
distinct terms where the earlier translations represented the concepts with
the same term, thereby facilitating the emergence of an Igbo Christian
register. Fourthly, some of the Biblical innovations are restricted to use
within Christian religious contexts, thereby suggesting the emergence of an
Igbo Christian register. However, many others have spread into Igbo beyond
their use in the Bible and some have acquired new meanings in the language and
also got entries in Igbo dictionaries




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