Note on Usage:
This document contains two separate prompts for two different translation approaches (Highly Literal and Optimal) for the translation of Tibetan Buddhist texts into English.
*This prompt is specifically for the Tibetan to English Translation; it may require correction for other usage.
How to use:
- Copy one of the required prompts.
- Insert the required texts under the Context and Resources section.
- Run the prompt.
- Rerun the prompt in a new chat if you are translating another text.
Prompt for Highly Literal Translation
Produce a highly literal translation of the provided Tibetan Buddhist text into English. This translation approach prioritizes maximum fidelity to the source text’s wording, syntax, and literal meaning to create an English version suitable for rigorous academic analysis and doctrinal study.
1. Guiding Philosophy: High Literalness
Word-for-Word Fidelity: The translation must be founded on a direct, word-for-word rendering of the Tibetan source. Strive to map each term and grammatical structure as closely as possible to its English equivalent.
Syntactic Mirroring: Preserve the original sentence structure and word order of the Tibetan text. Grammatical shifts are permissible only when absolutely necessary for basic English comprehensibility (e.g., reordering to fit a subject-verb-object pattern). The source text’s form takes precedence over target language naturalness.
Doctrinal Precision: Do not add interpretive glosses, expansions, or explanatory phrases within the main body of the translation. Clarity is to be achieved through terminological and structural accuracy, even if the resulting English is stylistically rigid.
Handling Ambiguity and Complexity
Ambiguity Resolution: Use footnotes to address ambiguities. A footnote can provide alternative translations, explain particularly dense terms, or clarify syntactic ambiguities that cannot be resolved in a literal rendering.
Multiple Meanings: When a term carries multiple valid interpretations, choose the most contextually appropriate literal meaning and note alternatives in footnotes.
Cultural Context: Provide minimal contextual information only when absolutely necessary for comprehension, always in footnotes rather than within the main text.
2. Context and Resources
Source Text (Tibetan): This is the ultimate authority for the translation. Its structure, phrasing, and punctuation must be followed as closely as the target language allows.
Glossary (Tibetan/Sanskrit to English): Adherence to this glossary is mandatory for all specified terms. If you identify a potential error or believe a deviation is necessary for accuracy, please submit a query for approval before implementing a change.
Structural Analysis (UCCA Format): Use the provided Universal Conceptual Cognitive Annotation (UCCA) chart to ensure the syntactic and semantic relationships in the source text are accurately mapped and preserved in the English translation.
Sanskrit Reference Text: This text should be consulted to clarify the etymology of technical terms and to confirm the most precise literal English equivalents, particularly for words with a Sanskrit origin.
Resources:
Source text: [To be provided]
UCCA format: [To be provided].
Glossary: [To be provided].
Sanskrit: [To be provided].
3. Target Audience and Style
Primary Audience: Academic scholars and advanced students of Tibetan Buddhism who require a text for rigorous doctrinal and linguistic analysis.
Secondary Audience: Buddhist practitioners who need a precise textual reference for study.
Tone: The tone must be formal, academic, and objective, avoiding colloquialisms or personal interpretation.
Style: The style should closely mirror the syntax of the source text. Avoid idiomatic English expressions and prioritize terminology that has a direct, one-to-one correspondence with the Tibetan.
4. Instructions for Specific Elements
Untranslated Terms: Key terms left in their original language (Tibetan or Sanskrit) should be italicized.
Transliteration: All transliterated Tibetan terms must follow the Wylie transliteration system. All transliterated Sanskrit must follow the IAST (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration) standard.
Proper Nouns: Names of persons, deities, and places not included in the glossary should be transliterated according to the specified system and followed by a brief, bracketed clarification upon their first appearance if needed (e.g., bSam yas [Samye Monastery]).
Punctuation: Replicate the function of Tibetan punctuation in English. The shad (།) may be rendered as a comma or period depending on its grammatical function, with the goal of preserving the original’s phrasing and pauses.
Formatting: The visual layout of the source text must be mirrored. Prose must be translated as prose, and verse must be translated as verse, maintaining the original line breaks.
Ambiguity and Nuance: Use footnotes to address ambiguities. A footnote can provide alternative translations, explain a particularly dense term, or clarify a syntactic ambiguity that cannot be resolved in a literal rendering.
5. Execution
Using all instructions outlined in this brief, please translate the following material.
6. Output
The expected output is a single document containing the highly literal English translation, formatted as specified.
Prompt for Optimal Translation
Produce a balanced/optimal translation of the provided Tibetan Buddhist text into English. This is the most common and generally desired approach for comprehensive understanding. It aims to achieve an optimal balance between formal equivalence (fidelity to the source text’s form) and dynamic equivalence (naturalness and intelligibility in the target language). The goal is to accurately convey the meaning and spirit of the original text in clear, natural, and idiomatic English, without unnecessary loss or addition.
1. BUILDING PHILOSOPHY: OPTIMAL EQUIVALENCE
You must adhere to the following principles of “Optimal Equivalence”:
Foundation in Formal Equivalence: Begin with a literal, word-for-word approach to honor the precision of the source text. Use the provided glossary as your primary guide for this.
Shift to Dynamic Equivalence When Necessary: If a literal rendering results in awkward, obscure, or unclear English, you must shift towards a more dynamic (thought-for-thought) equivalent to convey the intended meaning accurately. The final translation must flow naturally as a piece of English philosophy or sacred instruction.
Preserve Doctrinal Integrity: The translation must remain faithful to the original’s doctrinal, philosophical, and spiritual meaning. Avoid interpretations influenced by modern cultural biases. Pay close attention to key philosophical distinctions presented in the text.
Clarity and Readability: The final English text must be clear, elegant, and accessible. It should be suitable for both devotional reading by practitioners and rigorous study by scholars.
2. CONTEXT AND RESOURCES
You will be provided with several key resources. You must use them as follows, while verifying consistency across all materials before proceeding (e.g., cross-check the source text against the UCCA format or Sanskrit reference for any transcription discrepancies, such as variations in spelling or wording, and resolve them based on the primary source text):
A. SOURCE TEXT (Tibetan): This is the primary text for translation and takes precedence in cases of resource conflicts.
B. GLOSSARY (Tibetan/Sanskrit to English): This glossary is your primary authority for key terminology. You MUST adhere to the English equivalents provided in this glossary to ensure consistency. Provide neutral, base translations for terms without interpretive phrasings or added context to allow flexible application. Do not use synonyms for these specified terms unless a glossary term makes the specific sentence grammatically incorrect or semantically nonsensical. Ensure glossary entries are formatted consistently without extraneous punctuation.
C. STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS / UCCA FORMAT (If available): This resource provides a deep semantic and grammatical breakdown. If provided, you must use it to understand the function of each word, the relationship between concepts, and the implicit logic of the argument. It is a vital tool for achieving an accurate translation.
D. SANSKRIT REFERENCE TEXT (If available): Use this Sanskrit version to clarify ambiguities. Many Tibetan Buddhist terms are translations from Sanskrit. If a Tibetan term is ambiguous, consult the corresponding Sanskrit to determine the most accurate rendering in context. For any direct citations or transliterations from Sanskrit, use the International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) system for consistency.
Resource Conflict Resolution: When resources provide conflicting information, prioritize in this order: (1) Primary Tibetan source text, (2) Glossary for terminology, (3) Sanskrit reference for doctrinal clarification, (4) Structural analysis for grammatical understanding.
Resources:
Source text: [To be provided]
UCCA format: [To be provided].
Glossary: [To be provided].
Sanskrit: [To be provided].
3. TARGET AUDIENCE AND STYLE
Primary Audience: General readers, introductory students of Buddhism, and the lay public.
Secondary Audience: Educators, practitioners, and scholars who need a quick, reliable, and readable version of a text for teaching, personal practice, or general reference.
Tone: The tone must be reverent, scholarly, and formal. Avoid colloquialisms, contractions, or overly casual language.
Style: The prose should be clear, concise, and elegant.
4. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIFIC ELEMENTS
Untranslated Terms: Terms specified in the glossary to remain in Sanskrit or Tibetan should be italicized. Use the Wylie transliteration system for Tibetan terms and IAST for Sanskrit to ensure academic consistency.
Formatting: Preserve the structure of the original text. If the source is in verse, replicate that formatting, including efforts to maintain rhythm, syllable count, or poetic flow where it supports readability without altering meaning. If it is prose, translate it as prose.
Ambiguity and Nuance: If a word or phrase has a significant nuance that is lost in translation, or if there is a critical alternative translation, provide a concise, bracketed note [Note: …] immediately following the term. Use this sparingly and only when essential for understanding (e.g., for doctrinal ambiguities that could mislead readers; avoid for minor variations). For longer explanations, use footnotes instead to maintain text flow.
Specialized Buddhist Concepts: For important Buddhist terms not covered in the glossary, provide standard scholarly translations while maintaining consistency with established Buddhist English terminology. When multiple valid translations exist, choose the most appropriate for your target audience.
Disputed Interpretations: When encountering passages with multiple valid scholarly interpretations, choose the interpretation that best aligns with the text’s overall doctrinal framework and note significant alternatives only when crucial for understanding.
Footnotes vs. Inline Notes: Use inline bracketed notes for brief clarifications; reserve footnotes for detailed scholarly depth or citations to avoid disrupting readability.
5. EXECUTION
Now, using all the instructions above, please translate the provided text.
6. OUTPUT
A clear, accurate, and natural-sounding English translation of the provided Tibetan text that optimally balances fidelity and readability.