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Contractions in Bible Versions

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by Rippon, Aug 25, 2007.

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  1. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Number Of Contractions In 1 Corinthians

    I = ISV; N = NLTse; T = TNIV; H = HCSB; R = NIrV

    Chap.1

    I = 5
    N = 2
    T = 0
    H = 0
    R = 3

    Chap. 2

    I = 5
    N = 3
    T = 0
    H = 0
    R = 4

    Chap. 3

    I = 6
    N = 7
    T = 1
    H = 2
    R = 9

    Chap. 4

    I = 5
    N = 5
    T = 0
    H = 4
    R = 9

    Chap. 5

    I = 2
    N = 2
    T = 1
    H = 0
    R = 7

    Chap. 6

    I = 6
    N = 9
    T = 0
    H = 0
    R = 8

    Chap. 7

    I = 4
    N = 8
    T = 0
    H = 0
    R = 10

    Chap. 8

    I = 1
    N = 6
    T = 0
    H = 0
    R = 4

    Chap. 9

    I = 8
    N = 8
    T = 5
    H = 4
    R = 19

    Chap. 10

    I = 6
    N = 6
    T = 0
    H = 0
    R = 17

    Chap. 11

    I = 0
    N = 2
    T = 1
    H = 1
    R = 5

    Chap. 12

    I = 6
    N = 1
    T = 2
    H = 5
    R = 9

    Chap. 13

    I = 0
    N = 0
    T = 0
    H = 0
    R = 2

    Chap. 14

    I = 4
    N = 6
    T = 0
    H = 1
    R = 5

    Chap. 15

    I = 1
    N = 4
    T = 0
    H = 0
    R = 10

    Chap. 16

    I = 0
    N = 5
    T = 0
    H = 1
    R = 5

    Grand Totals For 1 Corinthians :

    I = 59
    N = 74
    T = 11
    H = 23
    R = 126

    Adding up the collective points (not really 'points' as such)for the five versions in the previous Psalms post and this one :

    I = 91
    N = 76
    T = 12
    H = 23
    R = 143

    The NIrV had the most contractions.Just 52 points behind was the ISV.The NLTse was in the middle with 76.The HCSB was second-to-last with 23.And the TNIV pulled up the rear with just 12 collective points.

    You can draw your own conclusions.
     
    #21 Rippon, Mar 14, 2009
  2. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

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    Where did the last year and a half go so quickly????

    My conclusions??

    From 9/25/2007 to 3/15/2009

    That's nearly a year and a half hiatus in this thread.

    Hmmm!

    Another slow morning over there in the Far East, Rippon??

    Ed
     
    #22 EdSutton, Mar 14, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 14, 2009
  3. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    When I noted your name replying to my thread I thought you wouldn't have anything of substance to say -- and I was right.Can't you ever stay on-topic?

    When I revive a thread it's because my new thoughts are related to the initial OP. Why start a new thread when an old one is on the same subject?

    Now if you'd like to count the uses of contractions in Psalms and 1 Corinthians with other translations like the ESV and NASB I would be interested.

    I think that there is a tie-in with the more formally-equivalent versions generally having less contractions.In the examples I furnished the TNIV used the least number out of five translations.I fully expected the NIrV to uses a lot more than the rest.But I was kind of surprised that the ISV which tries to position itself as an easier read than the NIV yet more literal -- actually uses a great deal more contractions.
     
    #23 Rippon, Mar 15, 2009
  4. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    I think contractions would be okay in the historical books and in the epistles. I would not like them in the poetic books and maybe not in the prophetic books.
     
    #24 Marcia, Mar 15, 2009
  5. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    The Great Bible (1539) and the Geneva Bible (1560) are rife with contractions.
     
    #25 Jerome, Mar 15, 2009
  6. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Really? Well that's better than contradictions.

    Please give some examples where those two have contractions whereas the KJV doesn't.
     
    #26 Rippon, Mar 15, 2009
  7. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Here are some examples of sixteenth-century Bible contractions:

    Isaiah 9:6

    (Great Bible)
    For vnto vs a chylde is borne, and vnto vs a sonne is geven. Upon hys shoulder doth the kyngdome lye, and he is called with hys awne name: The wonderous geuer of cou'cell, the myghtye God, the euerlasting father, the prince of peace,

    (Geneva Bible)
    For vnto vs a Childe is borne,& vnto vs a sonne is giue':& the gouernement is vpo' his shulder,& he shal call his name Wonderful, Cou'sellor, The mightie God, The euerlasti'g Father, The prince of Peace,

    John 3:16

    (Great Bible)
    For God so loued ye worlde, that he gaue his only begotten sonne, that whosoeuer beleueth i' hi', shulde not perisshe, but haue euerlasti'g lyfe.

    (Geneva Bible)
    For God so loued the worlde, that he hath giuen his onely begotten So'ne, that whosoeuer beleueth in him, shulde not perish, but haue euerlasting life.
     
    #27 Jerome, Mar 16, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 16, 2009
  8. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    Contractions are generally considered inappropriate in formal communication such as writing. YOu will notice that you rarely see them in newspapers (apart from quoting someone), formal books, etc. In most writing classes, you will get marked off for using contractions.

    That is why they are not found in Bible translations.
     
    #28 Pastor Larry, Mar 16, 2009
  9. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    But I had just pointed out the fact that English Bible versions do in-fact use them. Some use them sparingly -- and others liberally.
     
    #29 Rippon, Mar 16, 2009
  10. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    And I was making the general point that they are not considered acceptable in formal writing, and that is why they are not used much. I was speaking generally.

    I know they are there sometimes, generally in the more colloquial translations. They are generally not acceptable in writing.
     
    #30 Pastor Larry, Mar 16, 2009
  11. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Okay,you meant that contractions are generally not so plentiful in more form-driven English Bible translations.

    Okay.
     
    #31 Rippon, Mar 16, 2009
  12. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    The First Ten Chapters Of Acts In Five Versions

    The usage of contractions in the :

    T = TNIV
    H = HCSB
    N = NLTse
    I = ISV
    R = NIrV

    Chap. 1

    T -- 0
    H -- 0
    N -- 0
    I -- 0
    R -- 0

    Chap 2

    T -- 2
    H -- 0
    N -- 0
    I --- 2
    R -- 2

    Chap. 3

    T -- 0
    H -- 0
    N -- 2
    I --- 2
    R -- 3

    Chap. 4

    T -- 0
    H -- 0
    N -- 1
    I --- 3
    R -- 2

    Chap. 5

    T -- 2
    H -- 3
    N -- 2
    I --- 4
    R -- 6

    Chap. 6

    T -- 0
    H -- 0
    N -- 0
    I -- 1
    R -- 0

    Chap. 7

    T -- 0
    H -- 0
    N -- 6
    I --- 6
    R -- 4

    Chap. 8

    T -- 0
    H -- 1
    N -- 3
    I --- 1
    R -- 2

    Chap. 9

    T -- 2
    H -- 2
    N -- 3
    I --- 6
    R -- 9

    Chap. 10

    T -- 0
    H -- 4
    N -- 3
    I --- 4
    R -- 4

    Grand Totals :

    The TNIV had just 6 contractions.
    The HCSB had 10.
    The NLTse had 20.
    The ISV had 29.
    And the NIrV had the most with 32.

    For a more literal translation it's surprising that the ISV has almost as many contractions as the more dynamic NIrV.

    And once again, the TNIV shows a conservative use of contractions -- even less than the HCSB.
     
    #32 Rippon, Mar 16, 2009
  13. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    There are a number of contractions used in the GNT.
     
    #33 gb93433, Mar 17, 2009
  14. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    That's not exactly surprising news. Now if you had said that about the NASBU, then I would be very surprised.
     
    #34 Rippon, Mar 17, 2009
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