Author Topic: If you could speak any language fluently . . . (Read 6555 times)

rivka · « **Reply #25 on:** September 17, 2005, 11:57:39 PM »

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[nitpick] If they were in Hebrew, chances are their authors would not refer to anything called the "Old Testament." [/nitpick]

[nitpick]I'm sure they did refer to something called the "Old Testament", even if they didn't refer to it that way. [/nitpick]

I'm not going to debate the issue, but I did not want it to appear that I agree.

I don't.

Porter · « **Reply #26 on:** September 18, 2005, 08:24:06 AM »

Oh, come on. That's just rude!

I guess I'm missing something, because I really don't see how what I said could be wrong.

Icarus · « **Reply #27 on:** September 18, 2005, 08:29:38 AM »

She doesn't agree that it's called the Old Testament. She believes it's called "scripture."

But this very quickly turns into a semantic debate.

rivka · « **Reply #28 on:** September 18, 2005, 09:35:03 AM »

It probably is rude. What's ruder is that I don't care. I have had this debate too often, and I have no interest in having it again. *shrug*

And Ic, thanks, but that actually wasn't my point at all.

Ok, ok, that wasn't nice. Short version: IMO, no translation can possibly capture close to all the nuances and meanings. So the Torah is not the same as your Old Testament, nor can it ever be. Especially since it's not just a translation issue; the complete absence of the Oral Torah and related interpretive assistance also enter the equation.

To me this is not merely semantics. But I accept that it is to some. *shrugs again* And I have to debate this other places; I'd rather not do so here.

kojabu · « **Reply #29 on:** September 18, 2005, 09:58:55 AM »

Isn't the Torah the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (order may be wrong)?

Jonathon · « **Reply #30 on:** September 18, 2005, 10:09:36 AM »

That's commonly known as the Pentateuch (in Gentile circles, at least). I don't remember the Jewish name for that collection (is it simply Law?).

kojabu · « **Reply #31 on:** September 18, 2005, 10:19:58 AM »

Well, yea I know it as the Pentateuch for the Christian faith, but I just wanted to make sure I was associated the Torah with the right thing. I wouldn't call the Torah the Old Testament because it's not. The only reason I refer to the entire set of books from Genesis to Malachi as the Old Testament is because I was raised Christian. Therefore, when I was in the library looking for stuff on 1 Kings, my brain said, hey this is the Old Testament section.

Icarus · « **Reply #32 on:** September 18, 2005, 10:31:30 AM »

Sorry.

beverly · « **Reply #33 on:** September 18, 2005, 11:13:44 AM »

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Pig Latin, Squirrel, and baby

"Did you take my acorn?"

(Class repeats)

"Squeak squeaker squeak squeaken?"

beverly · « **Reply #34 on:** September 18, 2005, 11:19:19 AM »

Let me translate for my husband who is being ultra-literal again.

His point is that it is a fact that some people in the world, even if it is always mistakenly, that call that the "Old Testament". Therefore, it is indeed called the Old Testament (by some, and wrongly.) If *no* one called it the Old Testament, rivka wouldn't have to have the argument at all.

But that is neither here nor there. That is why he called it a nitpik.

sarcasticmuppet · « **Reply #35 on:** September 18, 2005, 11:33:54 AM »

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"Did you take my acorn?"

(Class repeats)

"Squeak squeaker squeak squeaken?"

Icarus · « **Reply #36 on:** September 18, 2005, 11:34:31 AM »

I think I understood that he meant that. Thus, a semantic issue. *shrug*

kojabu · « **Reply #37 on:** September 18, 2005, 11:59:05 AM »

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"Did you take my acorn?"

(Class repeats)

"Squeak squeaker squeak squeaken?"

That's from Emperor's New Groove right?

beverly · « **Reply #38 on:** September 18, 2005, 12:05:43 PM »

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That's from Emperor's New Groove right?

Yes.

Icky: OK, I wasn't sure.

rivka · « **Reply #39 on:** September 18, 2005, 09:03:29 PM »

No one owes me an apology. Especially Icarus.

I am not upset. What I am is a bit tired of having this same conversation over and over (admittedly, not with all of y'all). Thus, I will pass the buck and refer you to Judaism 101.