This study develops a contrastive analysis model between translations and experimentally conducts a contrastive analysis of lexical choices of the Bible — Gen 1 — using three different translations: the New Korean Revised Version (NKRV, 1998), the Revised New Korean Standard Version (RNKSV, 2004), and the New Korean Translation (NKT, 2024). The analysis focuses on identifying the homogeneity and heterogeneity among the vocabulary used in these versions. First of all, it highlights that the NKT adopted 826 new translation terms specifically chosen to reduce the use of difficult language by maximizing the use of accessible, pure Korean words.· Difficult Sino-Korean words were simplified into simpler words whenever possible: 넘는명절(유월절), 둥근지붕(궁창).· New words were created and used to express specific concepts: 흉패→가슴 주머니, 청지기→살림지기, 호심경→가슴갑옷.· Everyday language was utilized regardless of whether it was native Korean or Sino-Korean: Native Korean words 과일즙, 겨레붙이, 꼭두새벽, 불볕더 위, 한솥밥, 한숨짓다, 바람피우다. Sino-Korean words 난민, 대피소, 고문 하다, 공감하다.· Onomatopoeia, a characteristic of the Korean language, was actively utilized: 새빨갛다, 깜짝깜짝, 껑충거리다.· Plants were replaced with accurate terms used in the Bible: 감람나무 → 올 리브나무, 유향나무열매·감복숭아 → 피스타치오·아몬드.· Slang was also used when necessary: 멍청하다, 놀아나다.· Practical loanwords used in daily life were actively accepted: 메시지, 디자인, 리넨, 리터, 망토, 베일, 샌들, 커튼.· Proper nouns written according to their actual pronunciation: 갈릴래아, 니네베, 리바이어던, 베델, 에페수스, 유대아, 필리스티아.· Place names and idioms are written in the original language, with the Korean translation in parentheses: 엘샷다이(전능하신 하나님), 에혜아셰르에혜(나는 스스로 있는 자다).· Discriminatory and negative expressions have been softened: 맹인·말 못하 는 자 → 시각장애인·언어장애인, 나병 → 심한피부병. The study further categorizes the vocabulary found in each chapter to analyze the distribution of various word origins, specifically: Pure words (고유어), Sino-Korean words (한자어), Loanwords (외래어), Mixed words (혼종어). Tradition vs. Innovation: In the analyzed chapter (Gen 1), there is an average tendency of 48% to preserve and pass down traditional expressions, while approximately 52% reflects a trend toward new updates and modernization. The vocabulary consists of 87% pure words, 11% Sino-Korean words, and 2% mixed words. The frequency of pure words is nearly eight times that of Sino-Korean words, which significantly contributes to enhancing the readability of the Bible for its readers. The research demonstrates how the NKT can be explored meaningfully through the lenses of lexical-semantic analysis and reader-response theory.
Hyunsik Min (Fri,) studied this question.