Are there more than one Hmong translations of the Bible? If so, are they based on different manuscripts? What manuscripts? Also, where could I get one? My preference in English is the NASB or the ESV. They tend to be more literal than the NIV and are based on better manuscripts than the KJV. For those of you who are fluent in both English and Hmong do you find the Hmong translation(s) to be fairly accurate? A friend of mine once told me that her Hmong translation wasn't very good, but her biblical knowledge was very limited so I didn't put a lot of stock in her opinion. Perhaps she didn't understand the English and therefore concluded that the Hmong was off. I don't know. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Hmong translation of the Bible
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 11:54pm
#2
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
Thank you. Do you know where I could get one?
Thu, 06/10/2010 - 11:33am
#3
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
You can purchase a Hmong Bible online. I've seen them on Amazon, on the thai bible society's web page, etc...You can even get a Hmong Bible from Jehovah's Witnesses.
But here's a question to the world:
Does anyone know the method that is used to transliterate English, Greek, Hebrew Biblical terms into the Hmong language?
There has to be a method of some sort. Otherwise, the Hmong Bible translations today would have left certain words in a foreign language. For example, all the Bible books have been transliterated (Petus, Yauhas, Mathais, Malaukau, etc...) The cities have been transliterated (Yeluxalees, Npanpiloos, Yelikhau, etc...) What is the method being used here? How is it determined? Is there a proper standard?
From examining several Hmong Bible translations, I see that each translation transliterates the Biblical terms differently (sometimes dropping a tone marker, or changing a consonant, and some change it entirely i.e. "Iyi" verses "Iziv") It appears to me, that transliteration of foreign words into Hmong are based on the translators' preference. I hope that this is not the case. And I hope that a standard method is out there somewhere. If not, perhaps one day it will be established. If anyone out there has further insight on this, please post a response.
And...years ago there was Hmong Bible with a red cover. I think it was predominantly used by the Catholic church and it was an incomplete translation. Does anyone know if it has been updated or completed, or if it's even still being printed? My copy is super old, but it's an excellent translation and a great source for archaic Hmong terms.
ua tsaug ntau.
Thu, 06/10/2010 - 11:57am
#4
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
Hey Anonymous,
Thanks for the response. You have raised some very interesting questions. I will be watching eagerly to see if anyone has any insights. I will do some digging of my own to see what I can find out.
One thought - In most English versions of the Bible they have an extended section that explains the rationale behind their translation methods. They are usually done by a committee as oppossed to one individual and customarily give the name, address, etc. of the committee. Perhaps the Hmong versions contain the same type of information. It's usually found in the front of the Bible. A phone call or a letter to the committee may yield the answers that you are looking for. Just a thought.
Thanks.
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 2:54pm
#5
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
A committee is working on a new translation of the Hmong Bible. The hmong language doesn't have enough words to describe the full meaning of the original. The current hmong translations that i've seen are very dry in their translations. Studying the greek version of the new testament, it brings more light and color into the scripture. English translations try hard to bring this out, but fail miserably because the english language is a cripple language with all the rules that it never follows. Koine Greek seems to have more inflections in their words. Try studying the greek NT....and if possible hebrew OT. I'm still waiting to see the new Hmong Translation.
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 1:15pm
#6
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
The Hmong Bible is good but to my opinion I would say 75% accurate. A lot of English words Hmong don't have. And the translation can't be done words for words. A lot of words in English must be explain in Hmong or vice versa. There are still lots of room to improve.
Fri, 01/28/2011 - 10:26pm
#7
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
The Hmong translations that are currently available are not very accurate. The first Hmong Bible was translated from a Lao Bible, which was translated from a Thai Bible, which was translated from an English paraphrase. The Thai Bible Society required that a disclaimer be printed in every Bible that it was not allowed to be used in Thailand. There is a slightly better one available now, but it doesn't stray far from the first translation. Anyone I know who is fluent in both Hmong and English prefers to do their research in English, or even Thai, rather than in the Hmong Bible. However, I have a pastor friend who is in the process of doing a translation from the original languages of Greek (for the New Testament) and Hebrew (for the Old Testament). He has finished three books of the New Testament so far. I can hardly wait until it comes out.
Tue, 02/01/2011 - 5:38pm
#8
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
[quote=yangboi88]A committee is working on a new translation of the Hmong Bible. The hmong language doesn't have enough words to describe the full meaning of the original. The current hmong translations that i've seen are very dry in their translations.
I would say, it is not because the Hmong language doesn't have enough words to describe the full meaning of the original 'Bible' - but because the translator(s) is/are limited in Hmong. Simple fluency in the Hmong language only is not enough; high proficiency and the Hmong language and deep knowledge of the Hmong culture are a must requirement.
The Hmong language is actually sophisticate and genuinely beautiful - don't just take your own limitation as a universal truth to handicapping the Hmong language as a whole.
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 12:31pm
#9
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
Any recommendations on which version of the Hmong Bible to get? Those printed by the American Bible Society? So far that's the only one I've seen.....
Need one asap. Thank you!
Sun, 07/31/2011 - 11:54pm
#10
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
No, the new 2004 Thai Hmong Bible is by far the most accurate. It is translated right out of the NASB bible.
Mon, 08/01/2011 - 1:15am
#11
Re: Hmong translation of the Bible
When you say that "It is translated right out of the NASB bible.", what do you mean exactly? Do you mean that they took an English version of the NASB and then translated it into Hmong? Or did they take the same Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts that were used by the NASB translation committee and then come up with a Hmong translation? Just curious. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
I haven't done any careful study of the Hmong translations, but I think they are pretty accurate. Personally, I am partial to the Hmong Baptist translation, because it uses more "flowery" language, which is how the language is designed.