Re: English translation of the writings
Solomon J Abel (kalimat@iastate.edu)
Wed, Apr 19 1995 09:54:30 GMT
In article <3mtr4i$6jh@sif.cs.cornell.edu>, sevcik@mail.utexas.edu (Edward Sevcik) writes:
|> I notice that the writings of Baha'u'llah are translated into English,
|> using an archaic idiom (for example "hath" for "has" and "thee, thy" for
|> "you, your.") Two questions:
|>
|> 1. Are the original Persian writings written in an archaic or otherwise
|> nonstandard form of that language?
Though I can not read Persian or Arabic, from the stories I have heard,
Baha'u'llah both spoke and wrote in a very poetic, majestic style of Persian
and Arabic.
|>
|> 2. Are any revised translations in preparation, or have any been made? Since
|> the original writings are not in English, the translation itself is not a
|> sacred document, is it?
It is _my_ understanding that the writings of Baha'u'llah that have been
translated into English either by Shoghi Effendi or the Universal House of
Justice are considered the word of God, and therefore sacred.
--
Solomon J Abel
kalimat@iastate.edu