The worlds most widely distributed book the bible is the most widely read book in history. Most published and widely translated magazines in the world. More copies have been distributed of the bible than of any other book. The bible it should come as no surprise that the christian bible is the most widely translated book in the world. During the first two hundred years of christianity it was the most widely read of all texts. The watchtower is published from the christian religion of jehovahs witnesses jehovah is gods name, according to the bible and jehovahs witnesses are christians, followers of jesus christ. Most translators know that the bible is the most translated book ever. If you look at the note at the bottom of the infographic, you can see that jehovahs witness texts are also widely translated and distributed across the world. Published by the jehovahs witnesses, 62 million copies of the watchtower are circulated in more than 300 languages. The book has been adapted into over 240 languages worldwide, according to extensive research done by the fondazione nazionale carlo collodi in the late 1990s based on unesco sources. What are the most widely translated and distributed.
The bible has also been translated more times, and into more languages, than any other book. With 17 million copies produced in 49 different language editions, its likely the readers di. Oh, just some old novels youve probably heard a thing or two about. It is generally accepted that the bible is the most widely translated book of all time.
Five most translated books of the world languageoasis blog. The worlds most translated books the translation company. Thomas more considered it one of the three books that everyone should own. Leaving religion aside, the most translated book in the world is. The watchtower public edition is the most widely circulated magazine on earth. That statistic ranks it among the most translated and widely read books ever written.
This is considered to be the most important book left out of the bible. If books are to be enjoyed widely, they need to be translated in different languages. Its only been two months since our last update of this article. The most translated books in the world have a lot in common. With 469 translations, its easily the most translated text in human history.
Writer james chapman created a list of the most read b. That includes video and audio content as well as written articles. The koran appears to be the second most widely spread book, and while it has indeed been translated into many languages, muslims consider them to be interpretive glossaries, which is why they dont have much influence in the debates about their meanings or command nearly the same attention as the books written in arabic. However, unknown to many is that the number of bible translations varies depending. Without doubt, the bible is the most translated book ever. But what are the most translated books in the world. But, unconsciously to many, translators are the ones propagating knowledge. The worlds most widely distributed book watchtower. Watchtower and awake, the most published and widely. Thankfully, we can easily find some of the worlds most popular books translated into numerous languages around the world.
There are many who would name the bible as the most translated book of all time and technically they would be correct according to some historians and. What is the most widely translated book in the world. The watchtower has a circulation of more as 61 million. The 20 most translated texts in history the content in this article is compiled from data and does not reflect ingco internationals opinions or views. After the bible, imitation of christ is the most widely translated and circulated book in the history of christianity. Wow that is amazing and quite surprising at the same time. Of course we are happy to help you translate your book or document into. In 1973, the publication of his most famous and widelytranslated book, i am that, an english translation of his talks in marathi by maurice frydman, brought him worldwide recognition and. The most popular and fastest growing bible translation isnt what you think it is niv vs. This is the best available version because it was originally written in ethiopic and the translator, r. I would never have guessed that the jehovahs witness website would outrank all others, they cover more languages than. In fact, the very first book printed in english was a translation.
Sri nisargadatta, with his direct and minimalistic explanation of nondualism, is considered the most famous teacher of advaita since ramana maharshi. However, we wanted to share some exciting news the website now has content available in a staggering 1,000 languages, including 100 sign languages. The bible tops the list of the most read books in the world. Andersens andersens fairy tales have also been widely translated. The most important book in christianity, the bible is the most widely translated book in history. Jamess fifty shades of grey, you might think thats the most popular book in the world. A new milestone for the worlds most translated website.
Chinua achebe and the most widely translated african novel. Use arrows to rank one item in most translated books vs another. However, in this route and relation of a book and a reader. We have found and listed 20 of the most translated texts throughout history. Its the official written language in china, while mandarin is the spoken dialect. What is the most widely read book in the world answers. Most translated books best, greatest of everything. Chinua achebe, one of the most if not the most revered african novelist, passed away last friday at the age of 82. But if these books are to be enjoyed all around the world they need to be translated into different languages first. The most popular and fastest growing bible translation isn. This is a list of literary works including novels, plays, series, collections of poems or short stories, and essays and other forms of literary nonfiction sorted by the number of languages they have been translated into. As of june 2017, the series has been translated into 80 languages, placing harry potter among historys most translated literary works. But with thousands of languages in the world, is it possible to translate a single book into so many copies.
Over the centuries, however, things have changed radically. Over 90 percent of the human family have access to at least part of the bible in their own language. Religious texts have the greatest readership and distribution, with the holy bible, quran, book of mormon, and steps to christ dominating the lists. The worlds most translated books leopold classic library. William caxton, who introduced the printing press to england, printed the recuyell of the historyes of troye in 1473, which he had translated from the french original of raoul lefevre. It also includes additional research, which charles added at a later time. The bible is also the most widely translated book in history. The translation of the most widely read book in the world.
Are you looking for a book written in your target language. Have you read the mostcirculated book in the history of. So, for all your written content, you need to translate into simplified chinese. The most widely translated book in world literature after the bible, laotzus tao te ching, or book of the way, is the classic manual on the art of living. Excluding the bible and the quran, the second most translated book format in the world is the novel or novella. To celebrate world book day weve created an infographic that takes a look at 50 of the worlds most translated books, from the alchemist first. Some will credit the apostle paul, who is believed to have penned many of the books in the christian bible. Harry potter is wedged right there between pippi longstocking and the book of mormon. A survey by the bible society concluded that around 2. Surveys and searches suggest the translation that most americans are reading is actually not the. List of literary works by number of translations wikipedia.
Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the bible is the worlds. Almost one fifth of internet users speak chinese, making it one of the most. Having written more than 20 novels in his lifetime, it was the nigerians first novel, things fall apart, a damning criticism of british colonial rule in africa, which has defined his legacy. The first novel in the series, harry potter and the philosophers stone, has sold in excess of 120 million copies, making it one of the bestselling books of all time. There have been 820 million copies sold in the last 50 years. Today, the worlds most translated book is the bible. Learning a new language with the worlds most famous books. The complete bible or portions of it have been translated into more than 2,100 languages and dialects. Quotations from the works of mao tsetung is the second most widely read book in the world. The watchtower has a circulation larger than any other magazine in the world.
How many languages has the book of mormon been translated. Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the bible is the worlds bestselling and most widely distributed book. According to ingco international, a translation agency, the most translated book in the world is the bible. It is estimated to sell over 100 million copies worldwide each year, and it has been translated into 469 different languages. If someone asks you to name the alltime bestselling book, youd most likely answer the bible. Researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 mostread books in the world. This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. The 20 most translated texts in history ingco international.
Since 1830, some 18 million copies have been printed throughout the world by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Following the phenomenal success of his own version of the tao te ching, renowned scholar and translator stephen mitchell has composed the innovative the second book of the tao. The most translated author of all time spanish translation. The most translated books in human history quicksilver translate. Weve put together a translation hall of fame to make it easy to find out the answers to these questions and more. Chapman created the list by examining how many individual copies of the books had been printed and sold over the last 50 years. Additional copies have been printed by the reorganized church. So, the most authentic book translated into the most number of languages, is the thirukkurrall, making thiruvalluvar naayanaar the most translated author as well. That they are widely available in multiple languages means that more language students can. Read on to learn more about translation world records and other notable facts from the world of translation.
1217 385 877 139 1167 353 265 864 1020 164 1346 652 1057 1270 1278 464 841 1332 88 1088 478 1322 1020 717 426 78 783 787 866 105 752 1113 64 86 944