Linguistics Analysis of the Four Gospels Text in Arabic: a Preliminary sample
The project is part of the project for studying the history of the Arabic translations of the four gospels. Manuscripts of the four Gospels include different translations, due, perhaps, to the language from which the texts were translated. Studies have shown that the Arabic translations were done from the original Greek and sometimes from other languages such as Coptic, or Syriac. Knowing the original language of the text is an important element in determining its value, its history and its relation to the texts of the other family of texts. On the other hand, the texts of the manuscripts of the four Gospels belonging to the same language (For example, Greek), may be divided into special families or traditions. These may be determined through special readings that may show the addition of a word or verse, or omissions or the exchange of one word for another.
Going back to the Arabic translation, and for the sake of determining the original language of the texts, a comparison of the language structure of the translations was made. Most of the previous studies have concentrated on studying the origin of the words used and their relation to other languages, this project approached the study from a different angle and considered the syntax to be more indicative of the original language from which the translation was made. In order to achieve this, the DH developed a language analysis system that compares the texts’ syntax .In the first stage 30,000 words from 10th _ 15th centuries manuscripts were parsed and analyzed in accordance with a system developed by the DH section.
This approach allowed us to perform a comparative analysis of the texts. For example we would look for the use of the accusative or subjunctive case after a preposition instead of the generitive case in a special verse in case this indicated one language instead of the other. Or we could compare the syntax of one verse with another one for which the original language is known.
Going back to the Arabic translation, and for the sake of determining the original language of the texts, a comparison of the language structure of the translations was made. Most of the previous studies have concentrated on studying the origin of the words used and their relation to other languages, this project approached the study from a different angle and considered the syntax to be more indicative of the original language from which the translation was made. In order to achieve this, the DH developed a language analysis system that compares the texts’ syntax .In the first stage 30,000 words from 10th _ 15th centuries manuscripts were parsed and analyzed in accordance with a system developed by the DH section.
This approach allowed us to perform a comparative analysis of the texts. For example we would look for the use of the accusative or subjunctive case after a preposition instead of the generitive case in a special verse in case this indicated one language instead of the other. Or we could compare the syntax of one verse with another one for which the original language is known.