{"id":8514,"date":"2011-06-07T00:01:32","date_gmt":"2011-06-07T06:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/?p=8514"},"modified":"2011-03-24T16:27:41","modified_gmt":"2011-03-24T22:27:41","slug":"some-more-prefaces-from-pentecost-and-ordinary-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/index.php\/2011\/06\/07\/some-more-prefaces-from-pentecost-and-ordinary-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Some more prefaces, from Pentecost and Ordinary Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ed. Note: Fr. P\u00e1draig McCarthy, priest of the archdiocese of Dublin, has prepared the following chart comparing the text of prefaces from the current translation of the missal with the upcoming translation. He provides the following notes by way of introduction. <\/em><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prefaces are structured in three sections:<\/p>\n

a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A statement that it is right to give thanks and praise.
\nb.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The body of the Preface: the reason for giving thanks on this occasion.
\nc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A lead into Sanctus of praise with angels etc.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The new translation reflects the Latin text more exactly, giving the English translation a more verbose and florid character, and at times more strained.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Many Prefaces in the new translation begin the second section with \u201cFor \u2026\u201d, reflecting Latin syntax. This uses the word \u201cFor\u201d as a conjunction with the same meaning as \u201cBecause\u201d. In Latin this is normal. In English it is anomalous.<\/p>\n

Some would say that one should never begin a sentence in English with a conjunction; in colloquial speech, however, it is not infrequent. Where \u201cBecause\u201d is the first word of a sentence in English, what it logically refers to normally follows it in the same sentence; for example:<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it was raining, I took the umbrella.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unexpectedly, in the Prefaces, \u201cFor\u201d logically refers, not to a following clause, but to the preceding sentence. So the equivalent in a short example would be:<\/p>\n

I took the umbrella.
\nFor it was raining \u2026<\/p>\n

In English, the logical unit would more usually be all one sentence. In the new translation it is artificially divided in two. Where possible, it would seem good simply to omit the word \u201cFor\u201d in the Preface, and the sense is in no way impaired.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is some improvement in the use of inclusive language.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A continuing problem is in the long sentences and artificial quasi-Latin syntax. Try this:<\/p>\n