03-26-2004, 07:05 PM
Paul Younan Wrote:As a speaker of both Aramaic and English, I can pretty much tell you that the Aramaic of the movie sounded like it started off as English.
I spoke with Prof. Fulco (who translated the script for Mel Gibson) via email about a year ago. He stated that it was his intention to re-create "as realistically as possible" the "dialect that was probably spoken" at the time and place.
Now, take that for what it's worth. The Aramaic was ok - but not realistic at all, in my opinion.
For instance, during the entire film the word used for "lord" was the Hebrew "Adonai" - EVEN though the Greek versions of the NT themselves testify that the word used at the time was the Aramaic "Mar" (c.f., 1Cor.)
I can't imagine why Prof. Fulco would chose to ignore the testimony of the Greek witnesses, even, that people like Paul of Tarsus used the Aramaic "Mar" for "lord", rather than the Hebrew "Adonai."
All in all, like I said, the Aramaic was ok - but very unrealistic. Why didn't Prof. Fulco use the Peshitta for the translation? Well, think about it! Would he have earned his money by doing so? <!-- s:lookround: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/lookround.gif" alt=":lookround:" title="Look Round" /><!-- s:lookround: -->
Speaking from an Amatuer aspect. I think its very impressive that they did that at all! I know you can take it for whats its worth. But I bet 85% of the people in the movie didn't even know how to speak Aramaic and to make it "ok" is impressive! <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->
Some people were more upset that they didn't stick strict to scripture. It isn't meant to be another testimony -- so what we get, we should appreciate <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->
But your right, if you gonna do it, do it right -- but I am impressed, 'specially since I am struggling with speaking it correctly, which isn't all that hard when you practice...but look at all the diff. forms of this and that -- I feel, even after reading people's post that it is tough to get anything right... *shrug* but what do I know
Skamz
Mark 11:22-24