Cómo traducir la expresión “pray for”

Justificación lingüística y teológica sobre el uso de la preposición "por" en la traducción de "Pray for".

Con el fin de asegurar la máxima precisión teológica y gramatical en la traducción de sus materiales, me gustaría exponer brevemente por qué la traducción correcta de la fórmula inglesa "pray for" (cuando se refiere a intercesión) es "orar por" u "orar por que", y por qué el uso de "orar para" resulta incorrecto en este contexto.

A continuación, presento la evidencia basada en el uso cultural evangélico, la normativa de la RAE y la evidencia bíblica.

1. Argumento cultural y litúrgico (El lenguaje de la iglesia)

• En la himnología clásica y contemporánea:

Himnos clásicos bautistas y en la adoración contemporánea, líderes como Marcos Witt y Jesús Adrián Romero (referentes en México y Latinoamérica) utilizan frases en sus alabanzas como: "Vamos a orar por las naciones" u "Oramos por que el Espíritu Santo descienda".

• En la predicación:

Pastores referentes como Luis Palau o Luis Gabriel César invariablemente usan la preposición "por" al hacer llamados al altar: "Pasa al frente, queremos orar por ti" (Intercesión).

• Nota: Si dijéramos "queremos orar para ti", gramaticalmente estaríamos diciendo que vamos a orar con el propósito de entregarte la oración a ti (como si fuera un objeto), o que oramos en tu lugar porque tú no puedes hacerlo, lo cual es teológicamente inexacto.

• Peticiones de oración

Las peticiones de oración en la iglesia se expresan así:

Les pido que oren por mi familia. Sería incorrecto decir “oren para mi familia”.

Les pido que oren por mi trabajo. Sería incorrecto decir “oren para mi trabajo”.

Vamos a orar por su hijo. Sería incorrecto decir “oren para mi trabajo”.

La palabra “por” se utiliza igualmente al expresar “intercedan por”, “pidan por”, rueguen por”.

2. Justificación gramatical (RAE y Academias de la lengua)

Desde el punto de vista lingüístico, el verbo orar, cuando funciona como intransitivo con complemento de régimen (el objeto o tema de la oración), rige la preposición por. La Real Academia Española (RAE) y la Academia Mexicana de la Lengua establecen que los verbos de petición o súplica (como rogar, pedir, rezar u orar) cuando se hacen "a favor de" alguien o algo, utilizan por.

• Diferencia entre Por y Para:

• PARA indica finalidad o destino. "Oro para tener paz" (Mi objetivo es conseguir paz).

• POR indica causa, motivo o beneficio (intercesión). "Oro por la paz" (Intercedo a favor de la paz).

• La construcción "Orar por que":

Cuando en inglés se dice "Pray for [something to happen]", en español se debe mantener la preposición "por" seguida de la conjunción "que" que introduce la cláusula subordinada. Volviendo a los ejemplos anteriores:

Les pido que oren por mi familia. Sería incorrecto decir “oren para mi familia”.

La confusión proviene que alguien podría escribir incorrectamente:

Les pido que oren para que se arregle la situación migratoria de mi familia.

La expresión correcta es:

Les pido que oren por mi familia para que se arregle nuestra situación migratoria.

O

Les pido que oren por que se arregle la situación migratoria de mi familia.

Y también es aceptado:

Les pido que oren porque queremos que se arregle la situación migratoria de mi familia.

3. Evidencia bíblica (RV60 y NVI)

La Biblia es la norma final de fe y práctica, y también de nuestro lenguaje eclesiástico. Tanto la versión más tradicional (Reina-Valera 1960) como la más contemporánea (Nueva Versión Internacional) traducen el griego proseuchomai seguido de la preposición huper (a favor de) como "orar por".

Ejemplos claros:

• Santiago 5:16 (Pray for one another.)

• RV60: "...y orad unos por otros, para que seáis sanados."

• NVI: "...y oren unos por otros, para que sean sanados."

• Nota: Aquí se ve el contraste perfecto. Se ora POR (intercesión/personas) PARA (propósito/resultado). Usar "orar para otros" sería incorrecto.

• Mateo 5:44 (Pray for those who persecute you.)

• RV60: "...y orad por los que os ultrajan y os persiguen."

• NVI: "...y oren por quienes los persiguen."

• Colosenses 1:9 (pray for you)

• RV60: "Por lo cual también nosotros, desde el día que lo oímos, no cesamos de orar por vosotros, y de pedir que seáis llenos del conocimiento de su voluntad en toda sabiduría e inteligencia espiritual."

• NVI: “Por eso, desde el día en que lo supimos, no hemos dejado de orar por ustedes. Pedimos que Dios les haga conocer plenamente su voluntad con toda sabiduría y comprensión espiritual…“

Conclusión

Traducir "pray for the nations" como "orar para las naciones" implicaría que las naciones son el destinatario final de la oración (como si les enviáramos una carta), en lugar de ser el motivo de nuestra intercesión ante Dios.

Por lo tanto, para mantener la fidelidad a las Escrituras y la naturalidad del español que se habla en nuestras iglesias, debemos usar "orar por" u "orar por que".

Enrique Govea

Enrique Govea ha sido plantador de iglesias en 3 países, reside en Atlanta, GA y es el fundador de Multitude Languages.

AI Live Interpretation

AI Solutions for Live Interpretation: Navigating the Future of Multilingual Communication

IAs a Christian translation company, we understand the profound impact of clear and accurate communication in spreading God's Word and fostering spiritual growth. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought forth exciting possibilities in this realm, sparking both wonder and questions among our clients.

This article will explore two innovative AI-powered solutions designed to enhance live interpretation.

Polyglossia.io: Real-time Transcription and Translation for Ministries

Polyglossia.io is a platform specifically designed for churches, conferences, and ministries, aiming to expand the reach of their message through real-time, multi-language AI transcription and translation.

How it Works:

Polyglossia operates by capturing a dedicated audio feed from a soundboard or other audio source via a "Gateway box." This raw audio is then streamed to Polyglossia's servers in the cloud. Within less than one second, the audio is transcribed into text. Following transcription, the platform offers real-time translation of this text into nearly 100 supported languages. Users can easily switch between languages with a single click. The translated text is displayed on the tablets or other devices of the attendees, allowing them to read along in their preferred language. It’s important to note that this service only provides a translation in text format.

Polyglossia Pricing

• Basic Subscription: $80 per month, which includes 600 minutes (10 hours) of live transcription. Any additional time beyond this is charged at 6 cents per minute.

• Translations: The first language costs $25 per month, and each additional language is $10 per month.

• Gateway Devices: These have a one-time cost of $149 per device.

For more details, you can visit the Polyglossia Pricing Page.

When to Use Polyglossia.io:

• Large Gatherings with Diverse Language Needs: Ideal for church services, conferences, or large ministry events where there are attendees speaking many different languages.

• Accessibility for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing: As its origin story suggests, Polyglossia is excellent for providing real-time transcripts for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, enhancing their participation and inclusivity.

• Cost-Effective Reach: For organizations seeking to provide multilingual access without the overhead of multiple human interpreters for every language, Polyglossia offers a more economical solution.

• Informational Presentations: Scenarios where a single speaker presents information, such as sermons, keynote speeches, or lectures, are well-suited for Polyglossia's real-time transcription and translation capabilities.

LiveVoice.io: Flexible Live Audio & AI for Events

LiveVoice.io provides a flexible system that turns smartphones and computers into a live audio transmission and interpretation system, catering to simultaneous interpretation, guided tours, and more, with options for both human and AI interpretation.

How it Works:

LiveVoice allows event administrators to create events and multiple audio channels. Speakers, including human interpreters or AI voice translation, can then stream audio to these channels. Listeners access the event and choose their desired language channel via a smartphone app or web browser, either through a smart link, QR code, or a 6-digit code. Attendees can see the text in their phones, subtitles can also be added live to the vide feed so people in attendance or online can understand the message.

Different from Polyglossia, LiveVoice does offer both human interpretation integration (where professional interpreters or volunteers can stream their interpretations through the platform) and an "AI Voice Translation" feature. With the AI Voice Translation, the platform takes the original audio and uses AI to generate speech-to-speech translation in real-time.

LiveVoice Pricing

LiveVoice offers a flat rate with unlimited events and channels. Here are the main pricing tiers:

• Subtitles: 5.40 euros per day or 21€ per month (15€ if paid annually). It includes features like live audio transmission, real-time statistics, channel recording, and speaker handover, for up to 10 listeners.

• PRO Plan: This plan costs 26€ per day or 78€ per month (54€ if paid annually). It offers additional features such as branding options, admin and speaker chat, live video for interpreters, and A/B language switching, also for up to 10 listeners.

• Custom Plans: These are available for specific needs like individual codes or white-label iFrame embeds.

• AI Features:

• Original or Translated Subtitles: 5.40 € per hour per language.

• AI Voice Translation: 30 € per hour per language.

LiveVoice also provides options for temporary auto-upgrades for additional listeners and flexibility to change or cancel booked days under certain conditions. You can find more information on the LiveVoice Pricing Page.

When to Use LiveVoice.io:

• ·Hybrid Events: Excellent for events with both in-person and remote attendees, allowing all participants to access interpretation seamlessly on their devices.

• Simultaneous Interpretation with Human Support: For events where high-quality human interpretation is desired, LiveVoice provides the infrastructure for interpreters to work remotely or on-site and transmit their audio.

• Small to Large Scale Events: LiveVoice is highly scalable, accommodating events with a few listeners to thousands, making it versatile for various organizational sizes.

Partner with Multitude Languages for Your Tailored Solution

Every event and church is unique, and so too should be its approach to multilingual communication. We understand that some aspects of interpretation may be ideally suited for the dedication of your volunteers, others may benefit from the expertise of professional interpreters, and in certain contexts, AI services can provide innovative solutions.

We invite you to make a free appointment with one of our ministry language consultants today. We are committed to helping you navigate the optimal path forward for your multilingual communication needs, creating a solution tailored specifically for you. We'll equip your team with comprehensive training, teaching your volunteers how to master various tools—from traditional radio systems to modern apps like Zoom and LiveVoice—and guide them in leveraging AI to meet your specific requirements. By working hand-in-hand, we can ensure a perfect balance of volunteer effort, professional expertise, and technological assistance, ensuring your message reaches a multitude of languages and touches countless lives.

4 Reasons Why Your Ministry Should Hire a Christian Translator

Language is a complex and powerful tool. It is not simply a collection of words and grammar rules; it is a living, breathing reflection of highly complex cultures and worldviews.

Our words have the power to shape and impact those same cultures and worldviews. Great political speeches and powerful sermons have changed the hearts of individuals and the course of history. Phrases such as, "one small step for man", "I have a dream" or "Ich bin ein Berliner" resonate in the minds of people across the world and continue to generate feelings of hope, excitement, and inspiration several decades since they were first uttered. These words and messages are remembered because of their meaningfulness and relevance for the moment in which they were spoken, yet had they been uttered in a different way, at a different time, or to a different audience they may have been misunderstood or have faded into oblivion.

In a world saturated with information, language continues to have an impact, in part because of the arrangement of words, but also because of how those words are delivered, how they speak directly to hearts and minds of audiences, and because of the specific place and time in which they are received. In short, language cannot be separated from its context, or from the communities and audience with which you want to communicate.

If you have an important message to share, the job of a translator is to understand that message with all the nuances it may contain and communicate it faithfully and appropriately to a specific audience, in a specific place, and at a specific moment.

There is even more at stake in Christian translation. We hope not only that the message stays in the minds of our audience for decades, like the great speeches of history, but we desire for the gospel to have a transformative impact on their entire being with fruit that will last beyond this life.

What are the benefits of hiring a professional Christian translation company?

1. Having someone who understands your message.

The first step to an effective translation is understanding the content. When you hire a Christian translator, you are hiring a specialist.

Translators are usually hired according to three criteria:

• The languages they are competent in (Spanish, Korean, or Chinese, for example),

• Their understanding of how language works (professional linguistic training), and

• Their areas of specialization (legal/medical/literary).

Their proficiency in a specialist area is no less important than their ability to speak the language. For example, the court only uses legal translators. A lawyer may understand how the law works and a translator may understand how language works, but only the legal translator can marry both these aspects, because they understand both the legal system and the specific terminology needed, as well as how to communicate it clearly and effectively for others to understand in that context.

When you hire a Christian translator, you are not only hiring a language professional who understands how to communicate and has undergone years of learning and experience; you are hiring someone who can grasp the important nuances of your faith-based message to communicate it clearly to others.

As a Christian translation company, several ministries have come to us after first going down the route of hiring secular translation companies. Much of our time is spent correcting errors because the translator simply did not understand the elements of the message and the significance of specific words for the communities to whom they are speaking.

With Multitude Languages, you have the bonus of hiring a team, which means each project is carefully read, translated, and edited by multiple linguistic and theological experts.

2. Avoiding confusion in your content.

Consider the translation of Bible verses. A translator without a Christian background might translate a verse independently without referencing established translations. For example, just this month we reviewed another translation company’s work and saw this at play. Rather than using the target language version of Matthew 22:37 that is readily available online, the translator recreated it by writing “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your mind…” instead of “…all your soul…”.

This type of error can be confusing for the reader or listener as a fundamental biblical aspect has been significantly changed in the translated text.

Then there are references to Christian culture, such as books, music, liturgy and well-known ministries with an online presence. Consider this: A secular translator who needs to translate a quote from John Piper may invent their own translation of an excerpt without knowing that “Desiring God” already exists in Spanish; or they may even translate the book title word for word to “Deseando a Dios” not knowing that the actual title in the target language is already established as “Sed de Dios” (Thirst for God). If the reader sees that erroneous footnote and wants to read that book for more information, she won’t be able to find it since the title is inaccurate.

3. Avoiding doctrinal errors.

Basic concepts such as sin, prayer, and faith can have very different meanings when used by people with different worldviews. For the secular translator, the subtleties of how different communities use these words can be difficult to grasp.

A common mistake when translating the verb “to pray” in Spanish is to use “rezar.” Catholic communities tend to use “rezar” to refer to a more liturgical repetition of prayers such as the Apostles’ Creed, “Our Father,” or “Hail Mary.” However, Protestant communities prefer “orar,” which has a much different connotation of an open conversation with our Heavenly Father which includes praise, gratitude, and petitions. This is information that a secular translator often does not have access to, and when they use “rezar,” it not only miscommunicates the preacher's intention, it can also create a strange impression for the Spanish listener to hear a concept that seems out of place.

There are many doctrinal differences between Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches, yet even among Protestants, there are different translation needs depending on denomination. To translate “baptism” in Korean for a Baptist prayer guide, the right term to express submersion must be chosen rather than the “Methodist sprinkle”. This is just one case in point.

The team at Multitude Languages is well-versed in Christian topics and media. Thanks to our biblical knowledge and our extensive network of Christian speakers and organizations, we can make quick connections to present biblical content clearly in virtually any language.

4. Staying culturally sensitive and appropriate to your audience.

In cross-cultural ministry, whether at home or abroad, cultural sensitivity is paramount. A translator who understands the cultural context of the source material and the target audience will navigate the translation process more effectively, ensuring that the translated material is culturally appropriate and sensitive to the needs and beliefs of the audience.

A Christian translator will be invested in your message, partnering with you to handle it carefully and approach your audience sensitively. Important issues for cross-cultural communication include knowing the correct form and dialect to use for your audience. For instance, in Chinese, we continually consult with our partners to choose either Mandarin, Cantonese, Simplified or Traditional.

It is also important to understand the social and educational background of the group to be considered to choose the type of translation they prefer (subtitles or dubbing for example) and the right tone and register of language (formal or informal).

We can even partner with you as you share with us the spiritual condition of your audience. If your audience consists of seekers, new believers, or children, then we will carefully consider the type of language and Bible translations we use to best complete the mission. For example, using a KJV equivalent in the target language may not be the best option. The theologians on our team strive to match the target version to the closest equivalent of the English version you’ve used, ensuring coherence in your message.

These are just four of the many reasons why your ministry should consider hiring a professional Christian translator. Our team at Multitude Languages is passionate about communicating God’s word and biblical media in a way that is accurate, relevant, and impactful.

The process is simple: Just send us a message and we will schedule a brief call with you to discuss your translation needs