On Some Competing Tendencies in Translating Toponyms in Several Czech Translations of the Old Testament

The article, elaborating on some conclusions of the author's M. A. thesis, follows six areas of linguistic competition in place names in selected Czech translations of the Old Testament. These include the old Czech translations of the first redaction, the Bible of Kralice from 1613, the Saint Wenceslas Bible, Hejčl's translation, Heger's translation, Šrámek's translation, Bogner's translation, the Czech Ecumenical Translation, the New Kralice Bible, and the Czech version of the Jerusalem Bible. The author briefly summarizes the research accomplishments after 1989. Then he focuses on the competition between appellative and proper nouns (Vodní brána, Moždíř, Dolní Země, po pastvinách for in Saron), the vocalic quantity markings and their absence (Jisráél, Áššúr), nouns and adjectives (muži anatótští, arádský - Arád, Achítofel Gíloský, Betléman Jišaj, Jábeš Gileádský, No-Amon, Gileádské pohoří, edómská step), word-formation processes (Kartaginenský, gibský, jerichský), word order possibilities (země chanaanská, země Chanaan, kanaánská země, v Chasfie místě), and traditionally fixed and transcribed forms (Jerúšálájim, Misrájim, Negev) in the respective translations, while attempting to define the dynamic tendencies within this process.

Keywords: Czech translations of the Old Testament; Toponyms; Bible of Kralice; Saint Wenceslas Bible