Andrei Desnitsky | Independent Researcher (original) (raw)
Papers by Andrei Desnitsky
The expression Russkii mir, or “Russian World”, has played a key role in Kremlin propaganda since... more The expression Russkii mir, or “Russian World”, has played a key
role in Kremlin propaganda since the late 2000s. It is usually seen
as a rhetorical or ideological instrument. There is nothing new
about this concept: it was constructed already in the mid-19th
century, primarily but not exclusively by Slavophiles under the influence
of European nation-building ideologies and Romanticism.
The article traces this concept’s origins and demonstrates that it
can be best described as a mythologeme which eventually became
central for Russia’s civil religion.
Studies in East European Thought
This article discusses the poem written by Joseph Brodsky shortly after the proclamation of Ukrai... more This article discusses the poem written by Joseph Brodsky shortly after the proclamation of Ukrainian independence in the early 1990s. It compares this poem with other pieces by the same author that deal with the paradigm of “independence vs. imperial unity.” These poems present a difference, which is striking at first glance: Brodsky welcomes Lithuanian independence, while simultaneously denying the same rights to Ukrainians and Aztecs. As for Afghanis … his disdain is even more palpable. The proposed explanation is the concept of “Cultural Empire,” which the poet considers to be the ultimate good. This article briefly mentions the general problem of de-imperializing classical Russian literature in the context of post-colonial studies.
Orientalistica, Jun 28, 2018
Orientalistica, 2021
This article, the second in a series, briefly describes the main problems connected with the reco... more This article, the second in a series, briefly describes the main problems connected with the reconstruction of emerging Christianity. First of all, it is the scarcity of historical sources. They speak almost exclusively about religious beliefs and leave aside all other aspects of life. Then, it is the clearly expressed interest of both ancient authors and modern researchers to present a “rightful” and ideal picture. As a result, emerges an idealized image of such a Christian community that a modern scholar would like to belong to. A possible methodological solution to this problem can be found in the model of religious studies suggested by the modern German scholar Gerd Theissen. Concerning the practical method, one can suggest an analysis of the polemics as reflected in the early Christian texts, mainly epistles.
Orientalistica, 2020
This article proposes a brief overview of the existing points of view concerning the emergence of... more This article proposes a brief overview of the existing points of view concerning the emergence of the Ancient Israel state. The key question is the existence of the unified monarchy with Jerusalem as its capital which controlled the territories of Judea and Samaria. The scarcity of the archaeological findings makes this question dependent on how the historicity of the Biblical accounts on Saul, David and Solomon is seen. Some researches regard them as mythological while others as historical figures. Reconstructions of ancient history are never ideologically sterile, so the most important ideology here is Yahwism, a religious movement which gradually evolved from one step to another. Deuteronomist (the author of the Samuel-Kings cycle, most likely, a collective one) obviously adhered to his own version of Yahwism.
Orientalistica, Oct 12, 2021
Reformation in the Context of World Christianity, 2019
This article deals, both theoretically and practically, with metaphors from the Pauline Epistles ... more This article deals, both theoretically and practically, with metaphors from the Pauline Epistles (parts of the New Testament), that have to do with the state power. This theme remains ever important because these texts ate fundamental for all Christian denominations in their attitude towards their existing states. Recently, the cognitive approach to metaphors allowed for better understanding of nuances and hidden scenarios. As the result, in addition to unconditional loyalty modern scholars payed attention to other essential Pauline ideas, such as the hierarchy of values: the main Christian citizenship relates to heaven while the Roman state they obey as long as it does not contradict the first principle. This question becomes yet more important in connection with the modern translations of Pauline epistles.
대한전기학회 학술대회 논문집, Oct 1, 2012
Journal of Biblical Text Research, 2014
This paper gives a brief overview of this new trend, based on the author’s twenty years of experi... more This paper gives a brief overview of this new trend, based on the author’s twenty years of experience in this field in Russia and neighbouring countries, first as a Bible translator and editor with the Bible society, then as a translation consultant with the Institute for Bible Translation in Moscow, Russia. The area of Biblical studies used to be dominated by theology, but theology lost its central importance in the latter 20th century, replaced by linguistics, anthropology and other humanities disciplines. However, theology is slowly regaining its former importance under new circumstances and in a new way. This shift is primarily associated with the name of Eugene Nida and his colleagues who developed a profound theoretical foundation and a set of elaborate methodologies for Bible translators. Those changes eventually led to the appearance of some newer approaches, the two most prominent being relevance and functionalist theories. This tendency is yet more visible with the skopos or functionalist theory, initially proposed by K. Reis and H. Vermeer, later developed and made globally known by C. Nord. New approaches are appearing, some trying to domesticate the text as much as possible, others on the contrary, insisting on radical foreignisation of the Bible. The principle of iconicity that S. Crisp promotes can however give some room for translations different from the standard ‘meaning-based’ ones while avoiding the naivity of so-called essential literalness. Anthropology takes an important place in translational studies but theology mostly remains an uncharted area, so creating some sort of an ‘iconic theology’ of translation may help to correct this imbalance. The current problems of Bible translation have some clearly theological components so they should be studied, discussed and dealt with accordingly. To sum up, we are facing a situation which is fundamentally different from the one that was present in the “missionary era”, so theologians and anthropologists should become friends if they want to be successful as Bible translators.
This article takes a closer look at some poetic passages in the Septuagint in order to determine ... more This article takes a closer look at some poetic passages in the Septuagint in order to determine if a certain quest for more formal regularity could have influenced translator’s choices. This factor has been usually neglected so far because the Septuagint itself was not regarded as a literary text that can make an aesthetic impact on the reader. Anyway, the study demonstrates that at times translational anomalies can be explained, alongside with other reasons, by translator’s intention to produce more alliterations and assonances and more rhythmic regularities than a standard equivalent would. Still, this research demands a rather balanced methodology so that meaningful solutions can be distinguished from mere coincidences. So the methodology is discussed here in detail. Another aspect which is considered in this study is the role played by the Septuagint in the history of Greek literature. One may ask if some Septuagint texts influenced to a certain degree the future rise of the By...
The renowned book by the late Rev. Men' has recently been published again. This work deals wi... more The renowned book by the late Rev. Men' has recently been published again. This work deals with the origins of the Religions of the East, in the first instance the Buddhism. The Publisher has left the text without any comments, which would make the views of the Reverend more distinct. The present article is an attempt to fill in this gap. One has to say that the views of the Russian Orthodox priest regarding this phenomenon are far from being neutral. Some of his postulates invite negative comments of the specialists. However, his subjective approach provides a learned reader with a clear view on the common as well as distinctive features as applied to these world religions especially with regard to the technical terms used and description of the world order. In particular these are the metempsychosis (or re-incarnation) as seen by a modern Western reader and by a practicing Buddhist.
The Bible Translator, 2018
Translating metaphors is one of the most prominent areas where the importance of respect for the ... more Translating metaphors is one of the most prominent areas where the importance of respect for the receptor languages and cultures can be demonstrated and in this article I present a few examples from my own experience with CIS (former USSR) languages. Among other treatments of metaphor, I draw on the work of K. McElhanon, who suggests translating scenarios rather than words and expressions, even though scenarios are not identical in different cultures.
The Bible Translator, 2005
The Bible Translator, 2005
The Institute for Bible Translation (IBT) works in those countries that were formerly part of the... more The Institute for Bible Translation (IBT) works in those countries that were formerly part of the USSR, with the exception of the three Baltic States. The situation in these countries is in some senses different from what we see in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific which seem to be the main areas where the Bible agencies have been working in the last century. Mostly, the speakers of our receptor languages have at their disposal literary traditions that have existed for many decades, if not for centuries. Paradoxically, this favourable soil was prepared by the Soviet regime, which endorsed the linguistic description and literary development of pre-literate languages. No matter how awkward the slogan “Soviet culture, multinational in form and Socialist in content” may seem now, it played a positive role in bridging cultural gaps and creating national schools of translators. At the same time, no organised Bible study was allowed except in the few theological seminaries that remained for training priests. So, our typical translators are professional writers, journalists or scholars who are masters of their own language, who have been already trained as translators but who know little about the Bible. Needless to say, all translators are native speakers of the receptor language. According to the partnership agreements between IBT, SL, and UBS, we have the following requirements for our translators: being ready to work in a team, i.e., willing to accept criticism and improve their own drafts as a result of it; being teachable; respect for the message of the Bible; full command of the mother tongue; writing skills; a good knowledge of and respect for their own culture and literature; fluency in a major language other than the mother tongue (which usually means Russian).
The expression Russkii mir, or “Russian World”, has played a key role in Kremlin propaganda since... more The expression Russkii mir, or “Russian World”, has played a key
role in Kremlin propaganda since the late 2000s. It is usually seen
as a rhetorical or ideological instrument. There is nothing new
about this concept: it was constructed already in the mid-19th
century, primarily but not exclusively by Slavophiles under the influence
of European nation-building ideologies and Romanticism.
The article traces this concept’s origins and demonstrates that it
can be best described as a mythologeme which eventually became
central for Russia’s civil religion.
Studies in East European Thought
This article discusses the poem written by Joseph Brodsky shortly after the proclamation of Ukrai... more This article discusses the poem written by Joseph Brodsky shortly after the proclamation of Ukrainian independence in the early 1990s. It compares this poem with other pieces by the same author that deal with the paradigm of “independence vs. imperial unity.” These poems present a difference, which is striking at first glance: Brodsky welcomes Lithuanian independence, while simultaneously denying the same rights to Ukrainians and Aztecs. As for Afghanis … his disdain is even more palpable. The proposed explanation is the concept of “Cultural Empire,” which the poet considers to be the ultimate good. This article briefly mentions the general problem of de-imperializing classical Russian literature in the context of post-colonial studies.
Orientalistica, Jun 28, 2018
Orientalistica, 2021
This article, the second in a series, briefly describes the main problems connected with the reco... more This article, the second in a series, briefly describes the main problems connected with the reconstruction of emerging Christianity. First of all, it is the scarcity of historical sources. They speak almost exclusively about religious beliefs and leave aside all other aspects of life. Then, it is the clearly expressed interest of both ancient authors and modern researchers to present a “rightful” and ideal picture. As a result, emerges an idealized image of such a Christian community that a modern scholar would like to belong to. A possible methodological solution to this problem can be found in the model of religious studies suggested by the modern German scholar Gerd Theissen. Concerning the practical method, one can suggest an analysis of the polemics as reflected in the early Christian texts, mainly epistles.
Orientalistica, 2020
This article proposes a brief overview of the existing points of view concerning the emergence of... more This article proposes a brief overview of the existing points of view concerning the emergence of the Ancient Israel state. The key question is the existence of the unified monarchy with Jerusalem as its capital which controlled the territories of Judea and Samaria. The scarcity of the archaeological findings makes this question dependent on how the historicity of the Biblical accounts on Saul, David and Solomon is seen. Some researches regard them as mythological while others as historical figures. Reconstructions of ancient history are never ideologically sterile, so the most important ideology here is Yahwism, a religious movement which gradually evolved from one step to another. Deuteronomist (the author of the Samuel-Kings cycle, most likely, a collective one) obviously adhered to his own version of Yahwism.
Orientalistica, Oct 12, 2021
Reformation in the Context of World Christianity, 2019
This article deals, both theoretically and practically, with metaphors from the Pauline Epistles ... more This article deals, both theoretically and practically, with metaphors from the Pauline Epistles (parts of the New Testament), that have to do with the state power. This theme remains ever important because these texts ate fundamental for all Christian denominations in their attitude towards their existing states. Recently, the cognitive approach to metaphors allowed for better understanding of nuances and hidden scenarios. As the result, in addition to unconditional loyalty modern scholars payed attention to other essential Pauline ideas, such as the hierarchy of values: the main Christian citizenship relates to heaven while the Roman state they obey as long as it does not contradict the first principle. This question becomes yet more important in connection with the modern translations of Pauline epistles.
대한전기학회 학술대회 논문집, Oct 1, 2012
Journal of Biblical Text Research, 2014
This paper gives a brief overview of this new trend, based on the author’s twenty years of experi... more This paper gives a brief overview of this new trend, based on the author’s twenty years of experience in this field in Russia and neighbouring countries, first as a Bible translator and editor with the Bible society, then as a translation consultant with the Institute for Bible Translation in Moscow, Russia. The area of Biblical studies used to be dominated by theology, but theology lost its central importance in the latter 20th century, replaced by linguistics, anthropology and other humanities disciplines. However, theology is slowly regaining its former importance under new circumstances and in a new way. This shift is primarily associated with the name of Eugene Nida and his colleagues who developed a profound theoretical foundation and a set of elaborate methodologies for Bible translators. Those changes eventually led to the appearance of some newer approaches, the two most prominent being relevance and functionalist theories. This tendency is yet more visible with the skopos or functionalist theory, initially proposed by K. Reis and H. Vermeer, later developed and made globally known by C. Nord. New approaches are appearing, some trying to domesticate the text as much as possible, others on the contrary, insisting on radical foreignisation of the Bible. The principle of iconicity that S. Crisp promotes can however give some room for translations different from the standard ‘meaning-based’ ones while avoiding the naivity of so-called essential literalness. Anthropology takes an important place in translational studies but theology mostly remains an uncharted area, so creating some sort of an ‘iconic theology’ of translation may help to correct this imbalance. The current problems of Bible translation have some clearly theological components so they should be studied, discussed and dealt with accordingly. To sum up, we are facing a situation which is fundamentally different from the one that was present in the “missionary era”, so theologians and anthropologists should become friends if they want to be successful as Bible translators.
This article takes a closer look at some poetic passages in the Septuagint in order to determine ... more This article takes a closer look at some poetic passages in the Septuagint in order to determine if a certain quest for more formal regularity could have influenced translator’s choices. This factor has been usually neglected so far because the Septuagint itself was not regarded as a literary text that can make an aesthetic impact on the reader. Anyway, the study demonstrates that at times translational anomalies can be explained, alongside with other reasons, by translator’s intention to produce more alliterations and assonances and more rhythmic regularities than a standard equivalent would. Still, this research demands a rather balanced methodology so that meaningful solutions can be distinguished from mere coincidences. So the methodology is discussed here in detail. Another aspect which is considered in this study is the role played by the Septuagint in the history of Greek literature. One may ask if some Septuagint texts influenced to a certain degree the future rise of the By...
The renowned book by the late Rev. Men' has recently been published again. This work deals wi... more The renowned book by the late Rev. Men' has recently been published again. This work deals with the origins of the Religions of the East, in the first instance the Buddhism. The Publisher has left the text without any comments, which would make the views of the Reverend more distinct. The present article is an attempt to fill in this gap. One has to say that the views of the Russian Orthodox priest regarding this phenomenon are far from being neutral. Some of his postulates invite negative comments of the specialists. However, his subjective approach provides a learned reader with a clear view on the common as well as distinctive features as applied to these world religions especially with regard to the technical terms used and description of the world order. In particular these are the metempsychosis (or re-incarnation) as seen by a modern Western reader and by a practicing Buddhist.
The Bible Translator, 2018
Translating metaphors is one of the most prominent areas where the importance of respect for the ... more Translating metaphors is one of the most prominent areas where the importance of respect for the receptor languages and cultures can be demonstrated and in this article I present a few examples from my own experience with CIS (former USSR) languages. Among other treatments of metaphor, I draw on the work of K. McElhanon, who suggests translating scenarios rather than words and expressions, even though scenarios are not identical in different cultures.
The Bible Translator, 2005
The Bible Translator, 2005
The Institute for Bible Translation (IBT) works in those countries that were formerly part of the... more The Institute for Bible Translation (IBT) works in those countries that were formerly part of the USSR, with the exception of the three Baltic States. The situation in these countries is in some senses different from what we see in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific which seem to be the main areas where the Bible agencies have been working in the last century. Mostly, the speakers of our receptor languages have at their disposal literary traditions that have existed for many decades, if not for centuries. Paradoxically, this favourable soil was prepared by the Soviet regime, which endorsed the linguistic description and literary development of pre-literate languages. No matter how awkward the slogan “Soviet culture, multinational in form and Socialist in content” may seem now, it played a positive role in bridging cultural gaps and creating national schools of translators. At the same time, no organised Bible study was allowed except in the few theological seminaries that remained for training priests. So, our typical translators are professional writers, journalists or scholars who are masters of their own language, who have been already trained as translators but who know little about the Bible. Needless to say, all translators are native speakers of the receptor language. According to the partnership agreements between IBT, SL, and UBS, we have the following requirements for our translators: being ready to work in a team, i.e., willing to accept criticism and improve their own drafts as a result of it; being teachable; respect for the message of the Bible; full command of the mother tongue; writing skills; a good knowledge of and respect for their own culture and literature; fluency in a major language other than the mother tongue (which usually means Russian).
Доктор филологических наук, библеист и переводчик Андрей Сергеевич Десницкий подводит в этой рабо... more Доктор филологических наук, библеист и переводчик Андрей Сергеевич Десницкий подводит в этой работе итог более чем двадцатилетнему опыту работы над переводами Библии. Издание в доступной форме знакомит читателя с теорией и методологией такого перевода, приводя множество примеров из разных языков. Библейский перевод оказывается тесно связанным с самыми разными областями человеческого знания, от богословия до компьютерной техники. В книге также проанализированы современные переводы Библии на русский язык и предложены конкретные решения для разных переводческих проблем.Книга будет интересна широкому кругу читателей и может использоваться в качестве учебника.