[Maximilian]

Here is a very interesting article on the vernacular translation of the New Mass that was first presented at a secular linguistics conference. He analyzes scientifically the implications of the massive number of errors, although sometimes he does interject a bit of editorial or theological commentary.

Very interesting that according to the author's analysis, the Polish vernacular has no corresponding translation errors, unlike the over 100 translation errors that he found in an analysis of just 30% of the English version. Perhaps the pope just has no clue what the New Mass is like in other countries if he is judging by the standard of Poland.

[Judith Anne]

Very good article, thank you for posting it.

[SergiusAthanasius]

Traditional (Tridentine) Catholics have known of these astounding and quite heretical errors for many years. The unbelievers are incharge. Pope John Paul II will not reform the Mass significantly. Neither will the next Pope I am afraid. I was baptized in 1961 when the Church still held to sound doctrine and a Holy Mass. I will never attend another Mass other than the Tridentine Mass other than for weddings, funerals, and baptisims, out of respect for the participants. The New Mass (Novus Ordo Missa of Paul VI) is a fraud.

[saradippity]

I think it likely that the Pope familiar with the translation (that he probably was instrumental in accomplishing) has little idea of how far some have strayed.

There are times when I think our Pope may be too holy and good for the greater good of the Church.

As I get older and wiser I recognize that people who don't steal find it far harder to believe that someone they know does. Whereas a thief is far more likely to believe everyone does.Perhaps the Pope doesn't lie?It takes a lot more observing to spot who is lying coming from that place.Maybe that's why changes are slow in coming.

[livius]

Excellent article. I am a translator, and when I translate documents, much depends on the type of document. Translating a set of colloquial e-mails between business coworkers requires a freer hand and more "functional equivalence" than translating a contract or a legal opinion, for example.

One thing that has always been apparent to me in the English translation of the Novus Order is that the translators had no respect for the original as being one of those texts for which utter fidelity is required. They basically regarded themselves as being in charge of the text, free to shape it in any way they wanted - something that goes beyond "functional equivalence" and all the way into paraphrase and - dare I say it - intentional manipulation of the text.

[ninenot]

This is not news, but it IS timely-presented.

The English is now being reworked, extensively. The termites of ICEL have been bludgeoned (although not executed, which would have been proper and fitting.)

You will shortly hear/see a new translation which ACTUALLY reflects the Latin in the Ordinary of the Mass.

And a few years later, you will see/hear a translation which ACTUALLY reflects the Latin in the Orations and the Lectionary.

Of course, nobody will precisely identify the reason for 30+ years of slop, theologoumenon, and "PC,"--because naming people like Rembert Weakland, longtime chair of BCL, would be impolitic.

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

You may have already seen it but The Wanderer has a weekly column devoted to "What does the Prayer Really Say". Each week, the author contrasts the Latin to ICEL to a more traditional translation.

Part of this may be difference of opinion, but the Collect translations of ICEL IMHO are in particular very disappointing when compared to the original Latin.

Our faith in part is being formed by our liturgical experience; the language should be particularly edifying and uplifting as opposed to being put to lowest common denominator. the ICEL translations for me are like writing thank you notes and prayer requests to God on scratch paper when He knows full well we've got perfumed and embossed stationary we don't want to use even though it's right at hand.