The Bible as a Successful Migrant? Translation, Domestication, and Nordic National Identity

Despite its ancient and foreign origin, the Bible has managed to integrate so seamlessly into the contemporary Nordic countries that it is seen to form the basis of specifically Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish identity and values. This paper will employ the work of translation scholar Lawrence Venuti...

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Main Author: Karin Neutel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/647
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author Karin Neutel
author_facet Karin Neutel
author_sort Karin Neutel
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description Despite its ancient and foreign origin, the Bible has managed to integrate so seamlessly into the contemporary Nordic countries that it is seen to form the basis of specifically Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish identity and values. This paper will employ the work of translation scholar Lawrence Venuti on the politics and ethics of translation, and especially his concepts of foreignization and domestication, to explore this understanding of the Bible. Venuti’s thought informs critical reflection on how translation contributes to the cultural position of the Bible in the Nordic context, through examining translation principles, the function of retranslation, and the role of fluency. This contributes to our understanding of how the Bible has become a successful migrant to the Nordic region who is now used to keep others out.
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spelling doaj-art-6b590d34a6f645389cdaed9843ea643b2025-08-20T03:12:09ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-05-0116564710.3390/rel16050647The Bible as a Successful Migrant? Translation, Domestication, and Nordic National IdentityKarin Neutel0Department of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies, Umeå University, 907 36 Umeå, SwedenDespite its ancient and foreign origin, the Bible has managed to integrate so seamlessly into the contemporary Nordic countries that it is seen to form the basis of specifically Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish identity and values. This paper will employ the work of translation scholar Lawrence Venuti on the politics and ethics of translation, and especially his concepts of foreignization and domestication, to explore this understanding of the Bible. Venuti’s thought informs critical reflection on how translation contributes to the cultural position of the Bible in the Nordic context, through examining translation principles, the function of retranslation, and the role of fluency. This contributes to our understanding of how the Bible has become a successful migrant to the Nordic region who is now used to keep others out.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/647BibletranslationNordic countriesLawrence Venutipolitics
spellingShingle Karin Neutel
The Bible as a Successful Migrant? Translation, Domestication, and Nordic National Identity
Religions
Bible
translation
Nordic countries
Lawrence Venuti
politics
title The Bible as a Successful Migrant? Translation, Domestication, and Nordic National Identity
title_full The Bible as a Successful Migrant? Translation, Domestication, and Nordic National Identity
title_fullStr The Bible as a Successful Migrant? Translation, Domestication, and Nordic National Identity
title_full_unstemmed The Bible as a Successful Migrant? Translation, Domestication, and Nordic National Identity
title_short The Bible as a Successful Migrant? Translation, Domestication, and Nordic National Identity
title_sort bible as a successful migrant translation domestication and nordic national identity
topic Bible
translation
Nordic countries
Lawrence Venuti
politics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/647
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