Core Glossary

translation_memory.json is the enforced glossary for every Phase 2 translation in this curriculum. This document summarizes its shape and governing principles; see the Glossary Risk Groups for the full per-term entries.

Composition

The glossary holds 47 terms spanning all four risk tiers, covering Romans’ core theological vocabulary. Every term entry records the approved Ndebele translation, doctrine risk tier, rejected alternatives with reasons, and notes explaining any non-obvious translation choice.

Governing principles

1. Follow established Ndebele and Zulu Bible-translation vocabulary wherever it exists, rather than introducing new renderings for already-settled terms like uNkulunkulu, iNkosi, and umusa.
2. Flag conceptual-framework risk, not just word accuracy: many High and Critical risk terms in this glossary are lexically the correct, standard word, but carry an underlying traditional-religious framework (mediated access to uNkulunkulu through amadlozi) that differs from the biblical sense.
3. Explain rather than avoid theologically loaded concepts: terms like incarnation and providence have no single fixed Ndebele Bible word; rather than paraphrasing them away, the glossary keeps a clear rendering and requires explanatory framing on first use.

Relationship to the Doctrine Risk Registry

Every glossary term’s doctrine field links back to an entry in doctrine_risk_registry.json, so a term’s risk tier is always traceable to the specific doctrine it protects.