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Translating the 2001 Motto
Andy Lausberg
January 1, 2001
I'd like to offer a translation of the New Year's Motto. Please note that this is for your reference only; this translation has not been sanctioned or certified in any way (if you want to quote it, please make sure this is pointed out). It may be incorrect theologically, possibly grammatically, but I designed it with the belief that it may help some of you who are studying Korean, as well as offer some insight into the meaning of the original Korean motto. As is usual in some circles, I've described some of the reasons for decisions I've made in the translation process, after reflecting on some of the other translations offered so far. I hope these reasons offer some insight too, although they are rather technical(sorry about that). Of course, I could well be mistaken in this translation, so please don't take it too seriously. Thanks.
A sincere Happy True God's Day.
Transliteration: (not phonetically accurate, by the way!) Haebangdwoin Ch'eonjipumowa chanyeoga ilshimilch'ega dwoieo Ch'amsarangeui chuch'eseongin cheoldae yuil pulpyeon yeongwoneui ttusseul wanseonghasoseo.
Rough breakdown:
Haebangdwoin (liberated) Ch'eonjipumowa (heaven and earth + parents + and) chanyeoga (children) ilshimilch'ega (one heart, one body) dwoieo (become) Ch'amsarangeui (True love's) chuch'eseongin (subject + body + character; which is) cheoldae (absolute) yuil (unique) pulpyeon (unchanging) yeongwoneui (eternal) ttusseul (Will/purpose) wanseonghasoseo (be perfect/complete + (please) allow).
Translation:
May the absolute, unique, unchanging and eternal Will, which is the subject and central aspect within True Love, be completed by the liberated Parents and Children of Heaven and Earth becoming united in one mind, one body.
The subject of the verb complex [ilshimilch'ega dwoieo] (one heart one body + become) is [Ch'eonjipumowa chanyeo] (the Parents and Children of heaven and earth). [Ch'eonjipumowa chanyeo] (Heaven/Earth parents and children) could be interpreted either as (the Parents of Heaven and Earth + and + the children), where Heaven/earth, which has an adjective function, modifies only [pumo] (parents) or (the Parents and children of Heaven and Earth) where Heaven/earth modifies both [pumo] (parents) and chanyeo (children). The first interpretation is suggested by the term [Ch'eonjipumowa] (Parents of Heaven and Earth), which we currently use to signify True Parents in Unity with Hananim. However, this leaves the word [chaneyo] (children) as vague and ambiguous (who are these "children"). The second interpretation makes better sense, but this means the introduction by Father of a new concept: the Parents and Children of Heaven and Earth. If this is the interpretation that best reflects ! Father's intention, then we are c
The final verb [wanseonghasoseo] is an entreaty to Hananim, in the sense of "please let this happen" "please permit..." "we pray that...", and is well represented by any of these, but I would choose (May + past participle): May the completion/perfection of ... be accomplished/achieved. The verb complex [ilshimilch'ega dwoieo] can be interepreted as being included in this, as part of the completion process; the subject is the same, not different; it is God who Father entreats to allow this (Parents and children of Heaven and Earth becoming one heart/mind and one body) to be achieved. The only other interpretation of this verb could be a commmand (imperative) form of the verb, and this wouldn't make sense for a number of reasons. a) it would be illogical for Father to use a command form to himself (included as the Parents of Heaven and Earth) b) it would be ungrammatical to use an imperative form mid-sentence and use another form (honorific imperative) for the final form. For ! these reasons, the former interpr The noun complex [Ch'amsarangeui chuch'eseong] (True love's {subject + aspect + character}) is difficult to translate into English. The complex [chuch'eseong] can be interpreted and translated as "the character/nature of subjectivity" "the character/nature of the subjective force" etc. "Subjectivity" is vague and can lead to ambiguous understandings, so I avoid it when I can. I prefer the expression "subjective force" or "subjective core" to indicate what [chuch'eseong] is referring to. The prefix [-in] at the end of this noun complex turns it into an adjective complex modifying (describing) [cheoldae yuil pulpyeon yeongwoneui ttuss] (the absolute unique unchanging eternal Will).
Hence, one possible translation is: May the absolute, unique, unchanging and eternal Will, which is the subject and central aspect within True Love, be completed by the liberated Parents and Children of Heaven and Earth becoming united in one mind, one body.
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