This article is on worldviews and how different worldviews affect translation. I have used Bible Translation as an example because here I have the most data available. Bible translation is a part of my ministry to some extent. It may perhaps be useful for some readers on the ESL Teachers Board as the same meaning of a word in language 1 and language 2 may refer to different things in the different cultures of language 1 and language 2.

Different worldviews in different cultures may bear an impact on the meanings of words in different languages. Thus, if you translate the word "God" from English into one of the native languages of Asia or Africa, it may not then mean the same as it does in English. It is because the concepts of God differs according to local culture and religion. Thus, the GOD concept forms part of a world view that may differ from culture to culture. The article focuses on the question of how different world views affect the meaning of words in different languages. I have used data from our Bible translation projects in Kenya, especially those on Bible translation into Swahili because they are fairly comprehensive. Bible Translation here is only an instance to demonstrate how world views may affect the meaning of words in natural languages.

Happy reading!

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