One way to re-express the meaning of a word is to break it down into parts.
| WORD | RE-EXPRESSED MEANING |
|---|---|
| bull | “male adult, of the bovine species” |
| to dawdle | “to walk slowly, to do somethings slowly” |
| fragrant | “giving off a pleasant smell” |
| stink | “to give off an unpleasant smell” |
A word is defined by stating the different parts of its meaning in this way. A dictionary definition of a word is a statement of the different parts of meaning of that word. The technical name for the parts of meaning is “components of meaning.”
Here are some sample definitions of words, taken from an English dictionary. Look up these words in your own dictionary and compare the definitions:
| WORD | RE-EXPRESSED MEANING |
|---|---|
| cardigan | “warm woolly jersey, with sleeves, opening at the front” |
| bungalow | “house with one storey” |
| to burn | “to be consumed by fire” |
| adder | “small poisonous snake” |
| to dance | “to move with rhythmic steps, usually to music” |
One of the ways suggested in the last chapter for translating UNKNOWN IDEAS is to use a “descriptive phrase.” In fact, a descriptive phrase is a breaking down of the word, stating those components of its meaning that are most important in the context. This method can also be used to translate a word for an idea that is knon but for which there is no one-word equivalent in the Receptor Language.
For each of the words underlined below, restate the meaning of the word by breaking it down into its components. (Use your dictionary to check the meaning of the words.)
Citations:
Adapted from Bible Translation: An Introductory Course in Translation Principles by Katharine Barnwell, 2017, pages 57 - 58.