Oh be careful little translator what you say...#4

In the Tuyuca language of Colombia, every main verb requires a suffix indicating the source of the speaker's information.  Did the speaker see for himself?  Did the speaker hear for himself?  Did the speaker see evidence?  Did the speaker hear from someone else?  Did the speaker assume?

5 different possible sources of information....on every main verb!

For example:

a. diiga ape -wi

soccer play -VISUAL
‘He played soccer.’ (I saw him play.)

b. diiga ape -ti

soccer play -NONVISUAL
‘He played soccer.’ (I heard the game and him, but I didn’t see it or him.)

c. diiga ape -yi

soccer play -INFERENCE
‘He played soccer.’ (I have seen evidence that he played.)

d. diiga ape -yigi

soccer play -SECONDHAND
‘He played soccer.’ (I obtained the information from someone else.)

e. diiga ape -hĩyi

soccer play -ASSUMED
‘He played soccer.’ (It is reasonable to assume that he did.

So how would you translate the book of Acts?  Luke wrote the books of Acts but was he an eyewitness of every event?  In Acts 16:11, Luke was sailing with Paul and therefore he was an eyewitness.  However, in Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas were in prison.  Did Luke hear them singing from outside the prison?  Did Paul describe the events to Luke later?  Did Luke see the evidence of the earthquake?

Please pray for Bible translators around the world.  Pray for wisdom, knowledge and discernment.



Reference:
Barnes, Janet. 1984. Evidentials in the Tuyuca verb. IJAL 50.255-271.