Wez: Why are there less conjunctions in English NIV than in the Greek?
Doug: They use more conjunctions in Greek than in English, we take into account what it adds to meaning and then put that into the way we translate it.
Ian: Do you take a particular perspective on tense/aspect in Greek, which is the basis of the language? (Or in Hebrew?)
Doug: No particular stance. Waltke is on the committee, so his stances do have a significant bearing on how we see Hebrew things.
Kutz: Any bits where you didn't get your way?
Doug: Any bit that you don't like, that's a vote I lost.
Kutz: Do you kick the Hebrew guys out of the room when translating the NT bits?
Doug: No, we work together as a single committee for everything. No sub-committees or separate work. This is actually really valuable as most of the time is spent on working out not so much what the original language means, but on how to render it in English.
Q: Do you employ an English stylist?
Doug: No. The NIV committee doesn't. The NLT committee did. Not always to the satisfaction of the NIV committee.
Doug: A totally new study Bible is coming, with Carson as the editor.
Jeremy: How is it decided who is on the committee?
Doug: A brief doctrinal statement, similar to NA evangelical association one. Have to sign up to that, have to be an expert in Greek or Hebrew, but after that it's the committee's choice as to who to invite. Try to keep a variety of English spoken, nationality, experts on different parts of Scripture, culture, etc.