The Translational Fabric of Mission and Culture
Engaging Cross-Cultural Theologies on Translation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/isit.38319Keywords:
World Christianity, Mission, Culture, History, Cross-Cultural Theology, Intercultural Theology, Translation, Translation Theory, Cross-Cultural Translation, Adaptation, Assimilation, Inculturation, Contextual Theology, Cultural Semiotics, Andrew WallsAbstract
Within theological circles Robert J. Schreiter stands out for his extensive culture theory and theology engagement. Interestingly, therein, the area of cultural translation has not figured prominently in his scholarship, despite having enjoyed a certain pride of place at the times of his early career, both in mission studies and in cultural semiotics, his favorite theory of culture. What is suggested here then is to review the missional discourse of cross-cultural translation (Andrew Walls, Lamin Sanneh and Kwame Bediako), on the one hand, and its critiques from contextual theology (Stephan Bevans and Robert Schreiter) on the other, explaining his reservation. Additionally, the essay elaborates on translation in cultural semiotics (Yuri Lotman) and recent translation studies with its foundational as well as fluid concept of translation, not dissimilar to Schreiter's understanding of globalized culture, suggesting it as potential terrain for future theologies of crosscultural translation.
References
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———. 1993. “Contextualization from a World Perspective.” Theological Education 30(1): 63–86.
———. 1997. The New Catholicity. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
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———. 1996. The Missionary Movement in Christian History. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
———. 2002. The Cross-Cultural Process in Christian History. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Bediako, Kwame. 1990. Jesus in African Culture: A Ghanaian Perspective. Accra, Ghana: Asempa.
———.1992. Theology and Identity: The Impact of Culture upon Christian Thought in the Second Century and in Modern Africa (Exeter: Regnum)
———.1995. Christianity in Africa: The Renewal of a Non-western Religion (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis)
———.1998. “The Doctrine of Christ and the Significance of Vemacular Terminology,” in: International Bulletin of Missionary Research 22(3): 110–111. https://doi.org/10.1177/239693939802200306
———.1999. “Translatability and the Cultural Incarnations of the Faith.” In New Directions in Mission and Evangelization, J. A. Scherer and S. B. Bevans, 146–158. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Bevans, Stepehn B. 1992. Models of Contextual Theology. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
———. 2002. Models of Contextual Theology. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
———. 2009. An Introduction to Theology in Global Perspective. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Bevans, Stephen and Schroeder, Roger. 2004. Constants in Contexts. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Bosch, David J. 1991. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Brodzki, Bella. 2007. Can These Bones Live? Translation, Survival, and Cultural Memory. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Cheung, Martha, ed. 2006. An Anthology of Chinese Discourse on Translation. Volume 1. Manchester: St. Jerome.
Cronin, Michael. 2006. Translation and Identity. Abingdon: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203015698
Gentzler, Edwin. 1993. Contemporary Translation Theories. Abingdon: Routledge.
———. 2008. Translation and Identity in the Americas: New Directions in Translation Theory. Abingdon: Routledge.
Haleblian, Krikor. 1983. “The Problem of Contextualization.” In: Missiology: An International Review 11: 95–111. https://doi.org/10.1177/009182968301100108
Hung Hung, Eva Tsoi, and Wakabayashi, Judy, eds. 2005. Asian Translation Traditions. Manchester: St. Jerome.
Kaunda, Chammah J., Kennedy O. Owino, and Isabel A. Phiri. 2015. “Applicability of Translatability Theory to European Missionary Masculinity Performance in Africa.” Alternation 4: 212–230.
Kim, Kirsteen. 2010. Joining In With the Spirit: Connecting Local Church and World Mission. London: SCM.
Kraft, Charles. 2001. Culture, Communication and Christianity: A selection of Writings by Charles H. Kraft. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
Lotman, Yuri M. 1990. Universe of the Mind: A Semiotic Theory of Culture. London: Tauris.
———. 2005. “On the Semiosphere.” Sign Systems Studies 33(1): 205–229.
Maluleke, Tinyiko Sam. 1996. “Black and African Theologies in the New World Order: A Time to Drink from our Own Wells.” Journal of Theology for Southern Africa 96: 3–19
Nida, Eugene A. 1964. Toward a Science of Translating: With Special Reference to Principles and Procedures Involved in Bible Translating. Leiden: Brill.
Nida, Eugene A. and Reyburn, William D. 1981. Meaning Across Culture: A Study on Bible Translating. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Ricci, Ronit, and Van Der Putten, Jan. 2014. Translation in Asia: Theories, Practices, Histories. Abingdon: Routledge.
Sanneh, Lamin. 1989. Translating the Messge: The Missionary Impact on Culture. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Sanneh, Lamin. 2009. Translation the Message: The Missionary Impact on Culture. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Schreiter, Robert J. 1985. Constructing Local Theologies. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
———. 1993. “Contextualization from a World Perspective.” Theological Education 30(1): 63–86.
———. 1997. The New Catholicity. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Simon, Sherry. 2006. Translating Montreal: Episodes in the Life of a Divided City Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Walls, Andrew F. 1990. “The Translation Principle in Christian History.” In Bible Translation and the Spread of the Church: The Last 200 Years, edited by Philip C. Stine, 24–39. Leiden: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004318182_004
———. 1996. The Missionary Movement in Christian History. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
———. 2002. The Cross-Cultural Process in Christian History. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Published
2019-04-05
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Hintersteiner, N. (2019). The Translational Fabric of Mission and Culture: Engaging Cross-Cultural Theologies on Translation. Interreligious Studies and Intercultural Theology, 3(1-2), 30-46. https://doi.org/10.1558/isit.38319
