Where does language come from, and how does it develop? What does the character of language tell us about the Triune God, about the nature of created reality, and about us as human beings? What happens to truth when the words which convey it are translated? The field of linguistics, especially when done from a Christian perspective, digs into questions such as these. Vern Poythress, a Reformed academic and author of Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach (which has been mentioned on this blog here and here), recently published another book in his “God-Centered” series, this one on linguistics. We are grateful to Francine VanWoudenberg Sikkema for writing an in-depth review of In The Beginning Was The Word: Language—A God-Centered Approach. The book is also freely available online as a PDF.Francine is a graduate of Trinity Western University, where she received an M.A. in Linguistics with a focus on Bible translation. She has also studied biblical languages at the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary. She is currently working as a freelance editor. She lives in Hamilton, ON with her husband Tim and their pre-born baby, where they are preparing to do mission work in Lae, Papua New Guinea.
Francine’s review of In The Beginning Was The Word is listed in our “Collected Papers”, and a direct link is here. We invite your responses.
No comments:
Post a Comment
NEW COMMENTING REQUIREMENTS
Before commenting, please view this video; it contains important points about electronic communication.
Comments are welcome, but you must (A) truly interact with the materials, demonstrating that you have considered the actual arguments and that you are advancing the discussion with your contribution; (B) include your real first & last name as well as your city and province; (C) present it in a Christian manner; (D) send us an E-mail so we can contact you (required each time you submit a comment). Automatic rejection may occur if these four criteria are not met, although we may attempt to contact you for a resubmission.
Furthermore, we reserve the right to reject comments which we deem unconstructive or inflammatory, or which simply cite “authorities” or present passages for consideration without contextualization.
Approved comments will usually appear within 72 hours. No blog contributor or commentator is obliged to respond to questions.
Please note NEW COMMENTING REQUIREMENTS above.