Changes

The '''Bible Retranslation Project''' recognizes two fundamental aspects of a modern language that causes it to be a constant state of flux or change:

The '''Bible Retranslation Project''' recognizes two fundamental aspects of a modern language that causes it to be a constant state of flux or change:

*familiar terms devolve due to corrosive impact of culture and non-believers<ref>There are several reasons for this, including attempts by non-believers to dilute and distort powerful religious concepts for political ends, the corrosive effect of cultural changes on language, and the impact of politics on the meaning of terminology.</ref>

*familiar terms change their meanings, so text using them becomes misinterpretable

*new, more precise terms appear at a rate of about 1000 per year.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/06/22/word/?rsssource=1</ref>

*new, more precise terms appear at a rate of about 1000 per year.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/06/22/word/?rsssource=1</ref>

Terms that were clear and meaningful to one generation are often unclear and less meaningful to the next; meanwhile, entirely new terms are constantly emerging, some of which may facilitate more precise translation from the ancient Greek and Hebrew.

Terms that were clear and meaningful to one generation are often unclear and less meaningful to the next; meanwhile, entirely new terms are constantly emerging, some of which may facilitate more precise translation from the Biblical Greek and Hebrew (and Aramaic in the case of parts of the books of Ezra/Nehemya and Daniel).

Both effects above -- [[devolution of language]] due to culture and the emergence of new terms -- may be increasing as communications increase.  If a word inevitably alters its meaning after an approximate number of uses, then the time period for the change in meaning will shorten due to improved technology, just as the length of a [[sound bite]] likewise shortens.  Likewise, the rate of emergence of new terms may be directly correlated to the frequency of communication.  In the [[internet]] era, combating the effect of language degradation and creation on the understanding of the [[Bible]] becomes more important.   

Both effects above -- due to culture and the emergence of new terms -- may be increasing as communications increase.  If a word inevitably alters its meaning after an approximate number of uses, then the time period for the change in meaning will shorten due to improved technology, just as the length of a [[sound bite]] likewise shortens.  Likewise, the rate of emergence of new terms may be directly correlated to the frequency of communication.  In the [[internet]] era, combating the effect of language degradation and creation on the understanding of the [[Bible]] becomes more important.   

But there is an economic obstacle to developing a translation of the Bible that remains current with changes in language.  Book sales have been declining sharply due to the internet, and it is probably not easy to recoup the substantial costs ($10 million for the [[Holman Christian Standard Bible]]) that are required to develop a new translation.  With the need to recoup and enormous investment, publishers of a new Bible are probably overly cautious in changing familiar terminology despite erosion in their meaning, in fear of criticism and a poor reception.  A lower-cost and more dynamic approach is needed to combat the effects of persistent degradations in language.

But there is an economic obstacle to developing a translation of the Bible that remains current with changes in language.  Book sales have been declining sharply due to the internet, and it is probably not easy to recoup the substantial costs ($10 million for the [[Holman Christian Standard Bible]]) that are required to develop a new translation.  With the need to recoup and enormous investment, publishers of a new Bible are probably overly cautious in changing familiar terminology despite erosion in their meaning, in fear of criticism and a poor reception.  A lower-cost and more dynamic approach is needed to combat the effects of persistent degradations in language.