07 August 2023

Oera Linda — comparing translations: Liberty or Freedom?

Sandbach (1876: translation of Dutch 1872 translation, no study of the Fryas language) 

vs. Ott (2024, translation of original manuscript text, after 14 years study of the Fryas language — updated May 2, '24):

a sample

Sandbach p. 3, Ott ch. B

VMB VSA LJAWA ÉTHLA​.S WILLE ÀND VMB VSA LJAWA FRYDOM​.S WILLE

S: for the sake of our dear forefathers, and of our dear liberty

O: For our beloved ancestors’ sake, and for the sake of our precious freedom

THRVCHDAM WI HJARA LJUDA TO SPRÉKE THVRA, VR FRYDOM

S: because we dare to speak to their people of liberty

O: because we dare speak to their people of freedom

Sandbach p. 17, Ott ch. 2f

THÁ HJA JÉROCH WRDON. THÁ LÉRDE HJU HJAM THJU WÉRTHA FON THA FRYDOM KÀNNA

S: when they were grown she taught them the value of liberty

O: when they grew up, she gave them to understand the value of freedom

SVNDER FRYDOM SEND ALLE ÔTHERA DÜGEDON ALLÉNA GOD VMBE JO TO SLÁVONA TO MAKJANDE

S: Without liberty all other virtues serve to make you slaves

O: Without freedom, all other virtues will only help make you into slaves

Sandbach p. 39, Ott ch. 3e

HJA MACHTON FRY LÉTEN WÉSA BY ÀRGE LOFTUM

S: they may have obtained their liberty by making treacherous promises

O: they may have been set free in exchange for traitorous promises

Sandbach p. 101, Ott ch. 9d

BIFÁRA THÀT FINDA​.S.FOLK RIP TOFARA FRYDOM SY

S: before Finda's people will be ripe for liberty

O: before Finda’s folk are ripe for freedom

Sandbach p. 107, Ott ch. 10b

THÀT​.ER TO LÔNGE LESTA FON ÉLIK SA ÀND FON FRYDOM HA NAVT ÔWERS AS THA SKIN ÀND THA NÔME VR BILÉF

S: that at long last nothing remained of liberty but the shadow and the name

O: that, at long last, nothing remained of equality and freedom beyond illusions and words

Sandbach p. 111, Ott ch. 11a

BITHAM HJA HJARA SÉDE VRLÉREN THÀN SKOLDE HJA ÁK HJARA FRYDON (→FRYDOM) VRLJASA

S: if they lost their morals they would soon lose their liberty

O: if they should lose their morals, they would also lose their freedom

Sandbach p. 183-185, Ott ch. 15b

IN ÉRA TIDA NISTON THA SLÁVONA FOLKAR NAWET FON FRYHÉD

S: In the olden times, the Slavonic race knew nothing of liberty

O: In early times, the slave peoples knew nothing of freedom

FON HJAM HÉRADON HJA KÀLTA VR É​.LIKA FRYDOM ÀND RJUCHT ÀND OVERA É​WA

S: From them they heard of liberty, of justice, and laws

O: From these, they heard talk of equal freedom, justice, and laws

Sandbach p. 217, Ott ch. 16e

NV IS DÜGED FON UT HJARA MIDDEN WÉKEN. WISDOM IS FOLGTH ÀND FRÍDOM (→FRYDOM) IS MITH GVNGEN

S: virtue passed away, wisdom and liberty followed

O: virtue has vanished from their midst; wisdom followed and freedom went with it

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etymonline.com: »from Latin libertatem (nominative libertas) "civil or political freedom, condition of a free man; absence of restraint; permission," from liber "free"«

Freedom and Liberty in Webster's Complete Dictionary of the English Language, London 1886 (edition of 1880)