Kring J. H. Schróters omsetjing av Matteus-Ævangeliet, 1823

Abstract

In 1823 Johan Henrik Schroter published his translation into Faroese of The Gospel of St. Matthew. Schróter was the first one who tried to establish a Faroese orthography for public use (e. g. in print), an undertaking which involved a great many problems. Moreover the population disliked the use of their own vernacular in The Holy Scriptures, and the linguists (e g. P. A. Munch, Ivar Aasen and N. M. Petersen) disliked the ortophone spelling which, according to their theories, represented a mixture of linguistic structures.

The translation was carried out 1815—23. The original MS was provided with a preface and linguistic remarks, none of which were included in the printed edition. From this preface (printed in this pnper) and the remarks (from which characteristic examples are given) we learn a great deal about Schróter's methods and reasons for his choice of words and phrases.

Some characteristic features of Schróter's translation are referred and discussed. The tendency is that loanwords and more literary expressions are to be found in the abstract and specific religious parts of the text. The genuine Farose words and phrases (of which some were characterized as oldfashioned and obsolete) are to be found in the narration and in parts wheie concrete situations and objects are described.