February 03, 2004
Unexpected referrals

I was wondering why I was suddenly getting referrals from Telford's old links to me, but now I think I found the reason: he has a new article in Christianity Today that includes a link to his website. Given the size of CT's readership, I imagine enough people poked around the archives that some bumped into me.

I also found myself on this blog's blogroll. It is, evidently, in Swedish, which I don't know a word of. Unfortunately, the only online Swedish-to-English translator I could find made it nearly as incomprehensible, if rather entertainingly surreal:

Elvira was thinking today in term father and grandparents.
- Yous am becoming grandmother to remember baby, said Elvira.
- Mmmm, was answering self.
- And Erik am becoming..., continued Elvira
- Self am becoming Erik, completing Erik in.

It all sounds so existentialist.

Anyway, thanks for the link. And congratulations, Telf!

Posted by Camassia at February 03, 2004 08:37 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I SWEAR, I was just reading that entry 3 minutes ago before I switched over to read your latest entry! Allow me to assist your on-line translator with my own brain.

First, though, I should explain that the Swedish word for
father is far,
the word for mother is mor,
paternal grandfather is farfar,
paternal grandmother is farmor,
(are you getting the idea?)
maternal grandfather is morfar, and
maternal grandmother is mormor.

My translation of Kerstin Stahlbrand's entry regarding her daughter Elvira's attempt to understand her family relationships:

- - - - - - -
Elvira was pondering the words for paternal and maternal grandparents.

"You'll be mormor to my children," said Elvira.
"Uh-huh," I answered.
"And Erik will be?..." continued Elvira

(My note here: Erik is no doubt Elvira's father and Kerstin's husband. Children in Sweden are often taught to address their own parents and grandparents by first name.)

"I will be Erik," said Erik, filling in.
"Pappa will be morfar," Moa said, informingly.

(Moa is Elvira's sister)

"But who will be the farfar?" asked Elvira, suprised.
"That would be the pappa of the pappa of your children," I tried to explain and continued: "If we pretend that Simon would be the pappa, then Johan would be the farfar."

"Why?" came Elvira's question directly, with a snicker. It was clearly a strange suggestion. I giggled, too, when I saw how genuinely surprised she looked.
- - - - - - -

Posted by: Dash on February 4, 2004 07:52 AM

I just came across that Swedish link in my referral log too! I even posted on it. Thanks so much for the translation, Dash.

Posted by: Jennifer on February 4, 2004 01:07 PM

*blush shyly*
I didnīt think my bloggroll could make such impact, so far from my own country. Yes Iīm writning in swedish and the story you refering to Camassia, is about my youngest daughter Elvira. She tried to see in the future and I think it is hard to do when you are five years old. Things is so diffrent in a childs world and I came to see that in this specific disussion. I could see in her eays how she tried to compare a person with her own grandfather and how absurd that became to her.
Erik isnīt her father, but Dash is right; I for exampel always called my father by his name and never "pappa". So, when my oldest daugther told her sister she refered to their real father. I can see that it dont make sense for those who dont know our family. *smiling a warm smile*
~ Kerstin

Posted by: KerstinS on February 5, 2004 11:46 AM

;-D
Another round of Confusion for my friends, bartender! This one's on me!

Posted by: Dash on February 5, 2004 04:15 PM

There is a great similitude between the Torah (Pentateuch from OT) and the Koran from Islamism. But they are both totally contradictory with the New Testament (NT).
In the Old Testament (OT) Moses was the prophet from Yahweh likewise Mohamed was the prophet from Allah. But in the NT Jesus was the real presence of God Father between the men.
Judaism and Islamism are both monotheist religions and came from a common ancestral – Abraham, who was father of Isaac with Sarah and was father of Ishmael with the slave Agar, too. Isaac is the father of Jews and Ishmael is the father of Arabians.
In the OT circumcision is a rule from Yahweh to all male likewise it is also in the Koran. But in the NT physical circumcision has no value. What counts is the spiritual circumcision of the hearths (Romans 2:28 and 29).
In the OT Jews keep the Sabbath once a week likewise in the Koran Islamists observe the Ramadan once a year. But in NT Christians are advised to keep all days and to keep awake against temptations (Luke 21:36).
In the OT Jews are forbidden to eat certain kinds of meat (like meat from pigs) likewise in the Koran there is the same prohibition to the Islamists. But in NT there is no restriction to any kind of meat because Jesus said that what contaminates the man is not the physical food (Matthew 15:11).
In the OT women were discriminated and forbidden to exercise priesthood likewise in the Koran the women are depreciated and totally submitted to their husbands. But in NT Jesus didn’t discriminate women (John 4:9 to 27) and Paul said that what counts is becoming a new creature (Galatians 6:15).
In the OT there is the rule “eye for eye and tooth for tooth” likewise it is also a rule from Koran. But in the NT Jesus changed this principle of revenge and retaliation, giving another commandment of love (Matthew 5:38 to 42).
Fights between Jews and Arabians tend to never cease because they are both ruled by principles of revenge and retaliation, respectively by the Torah and the Koran.
In the OT all the rewards promised by Yahweh (to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon… ) were based on earthly gifts likewise in the Koran the rewards of Allah also are to those who are faithful on him. But the rewards of Jesus in the NT are all based on spiritual gifts (Luke 6:23).

Posted by: Oswaldo Carvalho on February 8, 2004 11:28 AM
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