This study explores the techniques and socio-cultural norms of the Greek Septuagint (LXX) translation corresponding to Hebrew Psalms 146-150. The literature review covers scholarly contributions from Translation Studies and Septuagint Studies, integrating both fields into the methodology. Detailed commentary on each line of the psalms forms the largest section. A synthesis of the translation techniques points to operational norms affecting quantitative and qualitative features of the Greek text and points to some preliminary norms reflecting the general approach and intended function.
The findings of this study confirm that the Hebrew source text was very similar to the Masoretic Text. The translator relied on the LXX Pentateuch and post-biblical Hebrew/Aramaic at times, but usually employed contextual guesses when uncertain. Overall, the work reflects source-oriented norms evident in formal correspondence to the quantity, order, grammar, and syntax of the Hebrew source terms. On the other hand, there are various shifts for cohesion, lexical and syntactical standardization and specification, and semantic enhancement. This interdisciplinary study confirms previous assessments of the LXX Psalter but also qualifies those assessments with extra details. Some of the dimensions covered include prepositions, lexical consistency, verbal aspect, sound play and thematic features, cohesion, figurative language, poetic parallelism, and socio-cultural settings.
The thesis has been published by ProQuest UMI here:
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1625975056
