Greek to Sesotho sa Leboa: keep identifiable people distinct from the focus of a question
Greek articles have several jobs beyond pointing at a particular object
The Centre for the Greek Language’s professional A2 specification documents definite articles with previously mentioned referents, proper names and general statements about a kind. Its example Η Ελένη έφυγε identifies Eleni in a report that she left. A Sesotho sa Leboa translation need not introduce an extra word corresponding to the Greek article in order to preserve that named participant.
The same specification illustrates indefinite reference with an unknown but particular man waiting outside. This differs from the definite article used in a general statement about dogs. Before translating, establish whether the Greek message introduces one person, refers back to somebody or makes a general claim. Article presence alone does not settle all three distinctions.
The specification also gives personal pronouns used for emphasis and contrast. Identifying a person and emphasizing that person are therefore separate tasks even on the Greek side. A source sentence may be about an already known person while asking which participant performed an action; the target must preserve both reference and the question’s information focus.
An articleless target can still identify a known referent
Mojapelo’s primary dissertation explains that Northern Sotho, or Sesotho sa Leboa, has no article system or nominal preprefix corresponding to the article-like forms discussed for some other Bantu languages. Nonetheless, speakers identify referents through discourse, pragmatic assumptions, demonstratives and other nominal material. An articleless target noun is consequently not automatically an indefinite translation of a Greek definite phrase.
Her discussion shows that a bare phrase involving a man buying pumpkins can receive definite or indefinite interpretations depending on context. A Greek source often makes some of that contrast visible through its articles. In Sesotho sa Leboa, preserve the surrounding identification rather than treating the missing article as evidence that the known man or pumpkins have become unspecified.
This is useful in a sequence of messages introducing somebody and then referring back to them. The target can rely on that established discourse link. Adding a demonstrative to every Greek definite noun could instead add a pointing or selection effect that was absent from the source. Use an identifying expression when the intended referent needs it, rather than inventing a universal article replacement.
A question about the actor can require a different target sentence shape
Zerbian’s primary research documents a subject–object asymmetry in Northern Sotho focus constructions. Her attested Go fihla mang? asks who is arriving, with the questioned participant after the verb and impersonal class-17 agreement. Copying a Greek question’s initial interrogative position would not reproduce this construction simply by substituting words.
For transitive subject questions, her examples use a cleft construction, including a question about who is looking for the doctor. The unknown participant is the seeker, while the doctor is the object being sought. Greek-to-Sesotho sa Leboa translation must keep that role distinction before selecting the target question pattern. Reversing it asks for a different person.
Zerbian distinguishes these structures from ordinary preverbal subjects and discusses the limits imposed by verb valency. The resulting change of word order is therefore not decorative emphasis to remove from a translation. It can be how the target asks for the missing actor. Preserve what the Greek question requests, even when the most suitable target sentence has an impersonal or cleft structure.
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