The Oldest Translations of Biblical Texts into Kashubian
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Date
2008
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Wydział Teologiczny UAM
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Najstarsze tłumaczenia tekstów biblijnych na język kaszubski
Abstract
This paper discusses translations o f biblical passages into Kashubian which originated in Evangelical
circles between the 16lh and 19th centuries. Although the tradition o f translation dates back
to the 16th century, translation o f the entire Bible, or at least one complete biblical book, which
would have originated in this particular environment has not been preserved. Presumably it never
existed. The oldest translations o f biblical texts into Kashubian were generally based on the German
language. The first printed book with texts in Kashubian included, among others, eleven works
defined as Psalms and a range o f short passages originating both from the Old Testament and the
New Testament. This very book was the Simon Krofey’s Hymnal published in Gdańsk in 1586.
Translation o f The Small Catechism o f Martin Luther came out approximately half a century later,
and similarly to the Krofey’s Hymnal it included many biblical passages. However, the biggest
collection o f biblical texts which has survived is dated for the turn o f the 17th and 18* centuries.
These texts are found in the so-called Smoldzinian Perikopes, containing lessons and Gospels for
all Sundays and church holidays. Many smaller passages o f the older translation o f biblical texts
represent only occasional translations o f biblical passages incorporated in other religious texts. The
first intended and methodical translation o f texts from the Sacred Scripture into Kashubian was the
collection o f so-called Smoldzinian Perikopes. Research conducted on these translations allows to
conclude that although authors o f these translations did not translate from original texts, but in most
cases from the German language, their translations o f the Bible are characterised by a high degree
of faithfulness to the thought o f original texts. Moreover, accuracy and efforts to make the texts
comprehensible and literary beautiful grant their authors the best testimony.
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Keywords
Bible, translations, Kashubian, Smoldzinian Perikopes
Citation
Poznańskie Studia Teologiczne, T. 22, 2008, s. 55-65