Resolving Pronoun Ambiguity: Comparing Bible Translations in English and an Artificial Auxiliary Language

This study explores pronoun ambiguity in English discourse, focusing on translation strategies in both natural and artificial languages. Pronouns contribute significantly to textual cohesion, yet they often introduce ambiguity when antecedents are distant, implicit, or when multiple referents are present. Through a comparative analysis of Bible translations—including the KJV, NIV, NIRV, and the artificial auxiliary language Unish—this paper examines how different translations manage pronoun clarity. The NIRV and Unish, both targeting non-native speakers or learners, frequently resolve ambiguity by replacing pronouns with repeated nouns. This approach enhances referential clarity and reduces cognitive load, especially in complex or referentially dense passages. In contrast, traditional translations like the KJV and NIV prioritize fluency and fidelity to the source text but sometimes sacrifice clarity through pronoun overuse. Unish, as an artificial language, demonstrates a unique strategy: prioritizing communicative clarity over grammatical economy by consistently repeating referents to ensure reader comprehension. While noun repetition may introduce the RNP, its benefits in preventing misinterpretation are significant for learners unfamiliar with discourse-level cues. The study concludes that artificial languages should not only emphasize simplicity and regularity but also integrate strategies that promote cohesion across larger discourse units. These findings contribute to translation studies and AIAL development by emphasizing referential clarity as a key component in cross-linguistic communication and language learning.