Saturday, June 7, 2008

#004, Choice of Words, writers' prerogatives

A writer is the creator of his own world. He is its supremo. In chosing words for his Universe, he has sovereign rights. I have often mentioned this in my blogs on 'Multiple Choice Question tests' on this platform. The idea of this sovereignity may appear to be laughable.

I felt that I should come up with a solid example to show how different authors used different words to shoot through the same idea. Here it is:

Bible Samuel 31:4. (Source: Bible.cc) Saul tells his armorbearer:-

New American Standard Bible: Draw your sword and pierce me through ...
God's word translation 1995: Draw your sword! Stab me ...
King's James Bible: Draw thy sword, and thrust me ...
American King James Version: Draw your sword, and thrust me ...
American Standard Version: Draw thy sword, and thrust me...
Bible in Basic English : Take out your sword and put it through me...
Douay-Rheims Bible: Draw thy sword, and kill me...
Darby Bible : Draw thy sword, and thrust me...
English Revised Version: Draw thy sword, and thrust me ...
Webster's Bible : -do-
World's English Bible : -do-
Young's Literal Translation : Draw thy sword and pierce me...

Thus, it may be found that five words kill, pierce, put through, stab, thrust, used to convey the same idea.

I trust I am able to pierce through my point.