Review of Daniel King, The Syriac Versions of the Writings of Cyril of Alexandria: A Study in Translation Technique

Review of Daniel King, The Syriac Versions of the Writings of Cyril of Alexandria: A Study in Translation TechniqueThe Journal of Theological StudiesSyriaca.org: The Syriac Reference PortalThe National Endowment for the HumanitiesThe International Balzan Prize FoundationDavid A. MichelsonLandonQPMoralescbsc_adminRecord added to Zotero byLandonQPMoralesRecord edited in Zotero bycbsc_adminSyriaca.org: The Syriac Reference Portalhttp://syriaca.org/cbss/Q7REDDB8/tei

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CREATED: This bibl record was autogenerated from a Zotero record.L. R.WickhamReview of Daniel King, The Syriac Versions of the Writings of Cyril of Alexandria: A Study in Translation Techniquehttp://syriaca.org/cbss/Q7REDDB8https://www.zotero.org/groups/a_comprehensive_bibliography_on_syriac_studies/items/Q7REDDB8https://www.zotero.org/groups/4861694/items/Q7REDDB8The Journal of Theological Studies602009703-704This informative study throws new light on the practice of translation from the Greek originals into Syriac, predominantly during the seventh and eighth centuries, especially on its methods and techniques; moreover, it indicates wider implications for the evolution of Syrian doctrinal theology. The oriental versions of Gregory Nazianzen are in process of publication and have been the subject of some study elsewhere. The choice here of Cyril as corpus vile was therefore good: there is a variety of translated pieces coming from different periods and the development of the Syriac vocabulary of incarnation is interesting and important in itself. The general division of styles between older and freer in contrast with later and more literal is well known. What Dr King usefully does here is to document and analyse more closely the division and contrast. Much incidental information on the technicalities of translation is usefully recycled and an illuminating parallel with the translation of law texts for students is noted. A small point of correction: there can be no doubt that Peter of Callinicus’ Against Damian was written in Greek and translated into Syriac. Style, calques, sentence construction, use of particles, etc. aside, no Pope of Alexandria or Patriarch of Antioch wrote his circular synodical letters in Syriac. Wickham, L. R. “Review of Daniel King, The Syriac Versions of the Writings of Cyril of Alexandria: A Study in Translation Technique.” The Journal of Theological Studies 60, no. 2 (2009): 703–4. https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/flp075. L. R. Wickham, Review of Daniel King, The Syriac Versions of the Writings of Cyril of Alexandria: A Study in Translation Technique, The Journal of Theological Studies 60, no. 2 (2009): 703–4, https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/flp075.