Setting the record straight

[gbausc]

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means:
1. To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
2. To use (another's production) without crediting the source
3. To commit literary theft
4. To present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

Andrew, your quote from your intro. does not attribute the translation text to Paul Younan and Murdock.
You say you"compared them". Proper credit would have been rendered if you said you "copied them".
There is a big difference between "compared" and "copied".

I am really unconcerned with the notes; I am discussing the main body of the text.
All I know of Mr. Lawrence Sheets is that aramaicpeshitta.com has Paul Younan's interlinear and "English only files", prepared by "Lawrence Sheets" (as if you did not know this,Andrew), and that James Murdock's files are also there on the same web site under "Peshitta Resources".

The plagiarism testing program- "Essay Rater" lists this site as the suspected source for practically every single line of every chapter of the 60 chapters I tested from your book.
Are you denying having used the "English only" files prepared by Lawrence Sheets, for your translation?

"Public domain" is irrelevant. If I were to publish Etheridge's translation with my name on it, it would be plagiarism, even though Etheridge is public domain.

You all seem to be saying that plagiarism either cannot exist in the Bible translation world, or that it simply does not matter.

And Christine, I quoted 27 verses of MARI, not hundreds, and 27 < 70, n'est ce pas?
And you couldn't copy a footnote, due to copyright notice? Did you have more than 70 verses in mind?

Simply because Paul Younan says his interlinear is not a translation, does not make it so.

Here is Paul Younan's Preface to his Interlinear:

Conventions used in this translation.

Aramaic, like its direct Semitic descendants Hebrew and Arabic, is written from right to left. A study of the Aramaic alphabet and language is required to utilize this work effectively. The closest English equivalent is written above the corresponding Aramaic word. Words are also added to the English translation which have no corresponding Aramaic word, but are required for sense in English. Such words are enclosed in square brackets [ ]. Words in Aramaic which would be superfluous or redundant in English are translated, but they are enclosed in angle brackets < >. When two or more Aramaic words are translated by one English word or phrase, the English translation is underlined. The words of Mshikha (the Messiah) appear in red.
Disclaimer: This translation is not sanctioned by the Church of the East. This is a personal translation only, and all readers are encouraged to verify the work on their own. This translation has not been edited nor verified by anyone other than the author (who does not have official sanction for this work) and is likely to have numerous errors.

So if Paul never did a translation, why does he say he did six times in the Preface on this very web site?
And why do you sheep all so stupidly go along with whatever he says, no matter what? Where are your brains? Paul says, "I never did a translation", and you all simply nod your heads and say, "baaaah"! He says, "I never took part in translating; I am not a translator"; "Baaaah!", "Baaaaah".

"I am no expert in Aramaic", says Paul. "Baaaah", Baaah", say the sheep.

Translation is scripture, and scripture cannot be plagiarized or copyrighted or protected, says Paul; "BAAAAH,BAAAAH,BAAAAH,BAAAAH!", comes the chorus from the corral of sheep.

Andrew says:

PUBLIC DOMAIN works can NOT be plagiarized.

Sheep, altogether now....

So, Andrew, what is your source for that statement?


Dave