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Translation of neologisms in the sermon on the mount from the book of Matthew (5-7) of the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613818751811584 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Asamoah, Emmanuel Foster |
| author2 | Nel, Marius J. |
| author_browse | Asamoah, Emmanuel Foster Nel, Marius J. |
| author_facet | Nel, Marius J. Asamoah, Emmanuel Foster |
| author_sort | Asamoah, Emmanuel Foster |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134497 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:11.774Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134497 Translation of neologisms in the sermon on the mount from the book of Matthew (5-7) of the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron Asamoah, Emmanuel Foster Nel, Marius J. White, Peter Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old & New Testament. Bible -- Translating -- Ghana Twi language -- Translating -- Ghana Bible -- Language, style -- Ghana Bible -- Hermeneutics Christianity -- Ghana UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Asamoah, E. F. 2025. Translation of Neologisms in the Sermon on the Mount from the book of Matthew (5-7) of the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/37b3b2c8-5afd-488d-abca-10720e227cb6 ENGLISH SUMMARY: Some churches in Ghana read the Bible in local languages such as Asante Twi, yet many believers still struggle to grasp its core messages. This difficulty arises not from the original biblical text but from unfamiliar or outdated vocabulary, particularly neologisms, used in translation. Focusing on the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) in the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron, this study seeks to enhance comprehension and accessibility for Asante readers, especially those without formal biblical training who find much of the language semantically unclear and culturally distant. Viewing Bible translation as a transcultural dialogue, the study emphasises the need for a faithful understanding of the original Greek text within its historical and socio-religious context, and for accurate, culturally resonant communication in modern Asante Twi. It applies Dynamic Lexical Equivalence (DLE) and Neologistic Bible Translation (NBT) theories, both rooted in Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics, to manage neologisms and guide revision. Using a qualitative approach, the study draws on interviews with twenty-three individuals, including priests, linguists, translators, and lay readers. Neologisms were categorised into three types: new sense, new form, and transferred terms, all shown to cause misunderstanding, theological distortion, or spiritual detachment. Representative examples include nkurɔfoɔ akuakuo (5:1), rephrased as nnipadɔm (multitude of people); pia mu (6:6), rendered kokoam (secret place); and ɔkwan hihiaa no (7:14), retained but clarified as ɔkwan hiahia no (the narrow road). Participants affirmed that many neologisms obscure essential Christian teachings on judgment, worship, peace, forgiveness, and provision. The study recommends that translators adopt the DLE and NBT frameworks to ensure lexical clarity, cultural relevance, and theological accuracy. It further urges the Bible Society of Ghana to incorporate such insights into future Asante Twi Bible revisions, thereby promoting deeper engagement with Scripture in the mother tongue. This study contributes to knowledge by offering a context-sensitive model for evaluating and revising biblical neologisms in African languages, proposing new lexical units that enhance semantic clarity and cultural relevance, with direct implications for translation practice, theological education, and reader comprehension. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sommige kerke in Ghana lees die Bybel in plaaslike tale soos Asante Twi, maar baie gelowiges het steeds moeite om die kernboodskappe daarvan te begryp. Hierdie probleem spruit nie uit die oorspronklike Bybeltekst nie, maar uit onbekende of verouderde woordeskat, veral neologismes, wat in die vertaling gebruik is. Deur te fokus op die Bergrede (Matteus 5–7) in die Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron, poog hierdie studie om begrip en toeganklikheid vir Asante-lesers te verbeter, veral vir die wat geen formele Bybelopleiding het en vir wie ’n groot deel van die taal semanties onduidelik en kultuurvreemd is. Deur Bybelvertaling as ’n transkulturele dialoog te sien, beklemtoon die studie die noodsaaklikheid van ’n getroue begrip van die oorspronklike Griekse teks binne sy historiese en sosio‑religieuse konteks, en van akkurate, kultuurresonerende kommunikasie in moderne Asante Twi. Dit pas die teoriee van Dynamiese Leksikale Ekwiavalensie (DLE) en Neologistiese Bybelvertaling (NBT) toe, albei gewortel in Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics, om neologismes te hanteer en riglyn te bied vir hersiening. Met ’n kwalitatiewe benadering trek die studie voort uit onderhoude met drieentwintig mense, insluitend priesters, taalkundiges, vertalers en gewone lesers. Neologismes is gekategoriseer in drie tipes: nuwe betekenis, nuwe vorm en oorgedragen terme, wat almal getoon is om misverstande, teologiese vervorming of geestelike loskakeling te veroorsaak. Verteenwoordigende voorbeelde sluit in nkurɔfoɔ akuakuo (5:1), hertolk as nnipadɔm (menigte mense); pia mu (6:6), uitgegee as kokoam (geheime plek); en ɔkwan hihiaa no (7:14), behou maar verduidelik as ɔkwan hiahia no (die noue pad). Deelnemers het bevestig dat baie neologismes noodsaaklike Christelike leringe oor oordeel, aanbidding, vrede, vergeving en voorsienigheid verduister. Die studie beveel aan dat vertalers die DLE‑ en NBT‑raamwerke aangryp om leksikale duidelikheid, kulturele relevansie en teologiese akkuraatheid te verseker. Verder word die Bybelgenootskap van Ghana aangespoor om sulke insigte in toekomstige Asante Twi‑Bybelhersienings in te sluit, en sodoende die betrokkenheid by die Skrif in die moedertaal te bevorder. Hierdie studie dra by tot kennis deur ’n konteksgevoelige model aan te bied vir die evaluering en hersiening van Bybelse neologismes in Afrikatale, nuwe leksikale eenhede voor te stel wat semantiese duidelikheid en kulturele relevansie verhoog, en met direkte implikasies vir vertaalpraktyk, teologiese opleiding en lesersbegrip. Doctoral 2025-12-11T09:24:29Z 2025-12-11T09:24:29Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134497 en Stellenbosch University xvi, 337 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Bible -- Translating -- Ghana Twi language -- Translating -- Ghana Bible -- Language, style -- Ghana Bible -- Hermeneutics Christianity -- Ghana UCTD Asamoah, Emmanuel Foster Translation of neologisms in the sermon on the mount from the book of Matthew (5-7) of the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron |
| title | Translation of neologisms in the sermon on the mount from the book of Matthew (5-7) of the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron |
| title_full | Translation of neologisms in the sermon on the mount from the book of Matthew (5-7) of the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron |
| title_fullStr | Translation of neologisms in the sermon on the mount from the book of Matthew (5-7) of the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron |
| title_full_unstemmed | Translation of neologisms in the sermon on the mount from the book of Matthew (5-7) of the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron |
| title_short | Translation of neologisms in the sermon on the mount from the book of Matthew (5-7) of the Asante Twi Twerɛ Kronkron |
| title_sort | translation of neologisms in the sermon on the mount from the book of matthew 5 7 of the asante twi twere kronkron |
| topic | Bible -- Translating -- Ghana Twi language -- Translating -- Ghana Bible -- Language, style -- Ghana Bible -- Hermeneutics Christianity -- Ghana UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134497 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT asamoahemmanuelfoster translationofneologismsinthesermononthemountfromthebookofmatthew57oftheasantetwitwerɛkronkron |