15 August 2002
From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Regarding the translation of the Books and Tablets of the
Blessed Beauty, ere long will translations be made into every tongue, with
power, clarity and grace. At such time as they are translated, conformably to
the originals, and with power and grace of style, the splendours of their inner
meanings will be shed abroad, and will illumine the eyes of all mankind. Do thy
very best to ensure that the translation is in conformity with the original.
("Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá")
From the writings of Shoghi Effendi and letters written on his behalf
This is one more attempt to introduce to the West, in language however inadequate, this book of unsurpassed pre-eminence among the writings of the Author of the Baha'i Revelation. The hope is that it may assist others in their efforts to approach what must always be regarded as the unattainable goal—a befitting rendering of Bahá’u’lláh’s matchless utterance. (Shoghi Effendi. Foreword to "The Kitáb-i-Iqán" (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1985)
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It must have been very distasteful to you to read some of the off-hand and ungrammatical translations that more out of necessity than choice won circulation and were even published. Furthermore, it was always the expressed wish and desire of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to have proper and adequate translations that would not only convey the true spirit of the original but also possess some literary ment. And for this he emphasized the necessity of a board of translators. Such a board it has unfortunately been impossible to form as yet. (28 March 1926 to an individual believer)
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Shoghi Effendi hopes that before long we will obtain a group of competent English and Persian scholars who would devote their whole time and energy to the translation of the Words and bring out things that are really deserving. For whatever we have at present, even the very best, is only a mediocre rendering of the Persian or Arabic beauty of style and fertility of language that we find in the original. (4 July 1929 to an individual believer)
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Shoghi Effendi wishes me also to express his deep-felt
appreciation of your intention to study the Qur'an. The knowledge of this
revealed holy Book is, indeed, indispensable to every Baha’i who wishes to
adequately understand the writings of Bahá’u’lláh. And in view of that the
Guardian has been invariably encouraging the friends to make as thorough a
study of this Book as possible, particularly in their Summer Schools. Sale's
translation is the most scholarly we have, but Rodwell’s version is more literary,
and hence easier for reading. (23 November 1934 to an individual believer)
He feels the highest literary standard possible should be
maintained in any future translations of Bahá’í writings into Spanish, and for
this reason he heartily welcomes the suggestion to refer such work to Spanish
professors.... (14 December 1938 to an individual believer)
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There is no objection to using, in translations of the
Master’s words, a uniform style such as “he does" or “he doeth". It
certainly creates a ridiculous impression to use both. One or the other may be
chosen.
In Persian it is impolite not to use the word “Hadrát” before the name of the Prophet, so that strictly speaking a proper translation should always have “His Holiness Moses” etc.; however, as this seems peculiar in English, and not in the best usage of our language, he feels it can be dispensed with. Pronouns referring to the Manifestation, or the Master, should, however, invariably be capitalized. (8 November 1948 to a National Spiritual Assembly)
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Shoghi Effendi himself uses the King James version of the
Bible, both because it is an authoritative one and in beautiful English. (28
October 1949 to an individual believer)
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He is interested in accomplishing two things—he would like
in the European languages to have as much uniformity with the English
translations as possible: he does not wish the Baha translations to be in any
way a flagrant violation of the rules of the language into which our literature
is being translated.
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Your Committee must conscientiously study this question, and
then do the best you can to have the Baha'i literature in French meet the high
standards of the French language and grammar.
If the possessive and demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in French are never capitalized where they stand for “God”, then this should not be done in the Bahá’í literature. If there is a precedent for doing so in the French language, however, they should be. The same is true of the attributes of God. (15 February 1957 to the National Translation and Publication Committee of France)
From letters written by the Universal House of Justice
We realise that translation is a very difficult task and
that however good a translation is there are always differences of opinion,
both as to accuracy and style. However, in translating Baha'i Scripture it is
important to remember that the style in the original is an exalted one and this
aspect should not be lost when it is translated into other languages. It can be
noted, for example, that when the beloved Guardian was making his translations
into English he used a style that is far from being that of modem English usage
but is admirably suited to the richness and imagery of the original. (12 August
1973 to a National Spiritual Assembly)
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A translation should of course be as true as possible to the
original while being in the best possible style of the language into which it
is being translated. However, you should realize that it will not be possible
to translate the Tablets adequately into easy, modern Dutch. Many of the
original Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and 'Abdu’l-Baha are written in very exalted
and poetic Persian and Arabic and therefore a similar flavour should be
attempted in the language into which it is translated. You will see, for
example. that in translating the Tablets of Bahá'u’lláh into English the
beloved Guardian has created a very beautiful and poetic style in English using
many words which might be considered archaic and are reminiscent of the English
used by the translators of the King James version of the Bible.
As you point out, a literal translation is often a bad one because it can produce a phraseology or imagery that would convey the wrong impression, thus a translator is at times compelled to convey the meaning of the original by means of a form of words suited to the language. However, a person translating the Baha'i Writings must always bear in mind that he or she is dealing with the Word of God, and, when striving to convey the meaning of the original, he should exert his utmost to make his rendering both faithful and befitting. (29 October 1973 to an individual believer)
From letters written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice
Those who are entrusted with the task of translating the Sacred Writings from the original into English should study the original very closely, and then attempt to express as accurately and as beautifully as possible in English that which the original conveys. To do this they frequently have to use various different synonyms in English to give the best translation of the same Arabic or Persian word when it appears in different contexts. Conversely, they may have to use the same English word in different contexts to translate various different words in the original. In doing this they attempt to follow the example set by Shoghi Effendi in his magnificent translations. (31 May 1981 to a National Translation and Revision Committee of a National Spiritual Assembly)
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Translation is a very difficult art—an art in which absolute
perfection is unattainable. However good a translation, there will always be
those who would have preferred it otherwise, for taste, which is undefinable,
plays such a large pan in such judgements. (20 September 1982 to an individual
believer)
(Baha’i Library Online)