BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence M.C. Schröder METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260603T134500 DTEND:20260603T151500 DTSTAMP:20260603T134500 UID:2026/phd-defence-m-c-schroder@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260531T013541 LOCATION:(1st floor) Auditorium, Main building De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:PhD defence M.C. Schröder X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Translating unknown con cepts into Toposa: a lexical-pragmatic approach

Bible translators in South Sudan develop creative solutions for unfamiliar concepts

How do you translate words and ideas that do not exist at all in another language or culture? That question was c entral to Martin Schröder's research into Toposa, a language spoken in South Sudan. He shows that translators work in a much more creativ e and versatile way than traditional Bible translation handbooks sugg est.

Schröder worked in East Africa for 45 years as a linguist and consultant for Bible translations. During that time, he discover ed that Toposa speakers and translators use different strategies in p ractice than the methods recommended in training courses and manuals. This led to an extensive analysis of how unfamiliar concepts can sti ll be made understandable to readers and listeners.

New meaning for existing words
The research shows that Topos a speakers introduce new concepts in diverse ways. They give existing words a new meaning, combine words, borrow terms from other language s, or add extra explanation. Bible translators do something similar, but also use translation-specific techniques, such as replacing an un familiar term with a similar local concept or employing more general terms.

According to the study, it does not stop at the text alo ne. Translators also use tools such as footnotes, glossaries, maps, i mages, and introductions to provide readers with additional context. In doing so, translation becomes not only a linguistic task but also a form of cultural mediation.

The findings are relevant for edu cation, language preservation, and communication in multilingual soci eties. Especially in regions where languages ​​and cultures diffe r significantly, better knowledge of these translation strategies can help make information more accessible.

Attention to co gnitive processes
In addition, Schröder emphasizes the i mportance of paying attention to cognitive processes in the training of translators. New words and ideas are not simply translated literal ly but must align with how people understand and use language. Accord ing to him, translation programs should therefore pay more attention to natural language use and to the wide range of techniques that tran slators apply in practice. According to Schröder, the cognitive-ling uistic model used, lexical pragmatics, proves too limited for languag es ​​such as Toposa, in which words often consist of combinations of multiple meaningful parts. The model should therefore be further expanded to better align with such languages. Successful translation is not just about words, but above all about understanding, culture, and context.

More information on the thesis

DESCRIPTION: Bible translators in South Sudan develop creative solutions for unfamiliar concepts

How do you transla te words and ideas that do not exist at all in another language or cu lture? That question was central to Martin Schröder's research into Toposa, a language spoken in South Sudan. He shows that translators w ork in a much more creative and versatile way than traditional Bible translation handbooks suggest. Schröder worked in East Africa for 45 years as a linguist and consultant for Bible translations. During th at time, he discovered that Toposa speakers and translators use diffe rent strategies in practice than the methods recommended in training courses and manuals. This led to an extensive analysis of how unfamil iar concepts can still be made understandable to readers and listener s. New meaning for existing words
The research sh ows that Toposa speakers introduce new concepts in diverse ways. They give existing words a new meaning, combine words, borrow terms from other languages, or add extra explanation. Bible translators do somet hing similar, but also use translation-specific techniques, such as r eplacing an unfamiliar term with a similar local concept or employing more general terms. According to the study, it does not stop at the text alone. Translators also use tools such as footnotes, glossaries, maps, images, and introductions to provide readers with additional c ontext. In doing so, translation becomes not only a linguistic task b ut also a form of cultural mediation. The findings are relevant for e ducation, language preservation, and communication in multilingual so cieties. Especially in regions where languages ​​and cultures dif fer significantly, better knowledge of these translation strategies c an help make information more accessible. Attention to cognit ive processes
In addition, Schröder emphasizes the impor tance of paying attention to cognitive processes in the training of t ranslators. New words and ideas are not simply translated literally b ut must align with how people understand and use language. According to him, translation programs should therefore pay more attention to n atural language use and to the wide range of techniques that translat ors apply in practice. According to Schröder, the cognitive-linguist ic model used, lexical pragmatics, proves too limited for languages � ��​such as Toposa, in which words often consist of combinations of multiple meaningful parts. The model should therefore be further expa nded to better align with such languages. Successful translation is n ot just about words, but above all about understanding, culture, and context. More information on the thesis Translating unknown c oncepts into Toposa: a lexical-pragmatic approach END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR