Synthesis
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Introduction
The synthesis layer provides summaries of each psalm that serve as an at-a-glance introduction for the translator: the most important information, on one page (or screen). This single page is the result of all the analytic layers, so that every claim can be substantiated by a separate, analytic, visualisation that shows how the conclusion was reached and equips the user to make an informed decision of their own. The synthesis layer is also intended to be the first point of contact with the exegetical material for a psalm and a doorway into more details as needed.
Steps
Overview
This is the first of three sections of the synthesis layer. It has 4 elements: title/icon, purpose, content, and message.
Title and Icon
Copy and paste the template provided. Then give your psalm a title, a brief tagline, often a representative phrase taken from the psalm itself. It might be helpful to ask the question, “How would I summarise the psalm in a single phrase?” Select an icon that represents this idea with a simple, black and white graphic. Usually you can find an appropriate icon at the Noun Project. For Psalm 5, the title and icon capture the legal terminology that is prominent in the psalm.
Purpose
The goal in providing the psalm’s purpose is to identify the author’s main aim in speaking, considering the discourse as a whole. Often this will be the reason the psalmist is praying to God in the psalm. The purpose should answer the questions like, “What were the psalmist’s intentions in writing this psalm?” and “Why did the psalmist pray this to God?”
In workshop settings, it will likely be more constructive to ask questions that help the translation team to arrive at the purpose on their own, rather than simply giving them a label. For example, if you’re working with a lament psalm, it might be good to ask them to talk about the ways in which their culture(s) express sorrow, and ways in which they express resolution or hope.
Content
The content briefly summarises the main point(s) of the psalm. If possible, use wording from the text itself (the CBC). If the psalm expresses an argument to accomplish its communicative purpose, then make this as transparent as possible in the content summary.
Message
The message of the psalm is the one big idea that the psalmist wanted you as the reader to walk away with. There may be several possible choices here, so you may want to provide 2–3 options to be considered at the Live Review. Below is the overview section for Psalm 5.
Orientation
This is the second of three sections of the synthesis layer. It has 2 elements: background ideas and background situation.
Background ideas
Background ideas are 2–5 common-ground assumptions, selected from the “assumptions table” (“Story behind the Psalm” layer). These assumptions are key in that they are necessary for understanding the psalm, yet likely to be missed or misunderstood by readers today. These have already been selected at the story-behind layer, so you just need to copy/paste from there.
Background situation
The background situation is a schematic representation of the situation into which the psalm was spoken. Each box represents an event leading up to the time the psalm was spoken. The background situation answers the question, “What is the situational context for the prayer (including events and participants)? What has happened leading up to the time of prayer?” Like the background ideas, the background situation is taken from the “Story Behind the Psalm,” and usually includes the events that lie to the left of the star icon (which represents the psalm itself). Just copy/paste from the “Story-behind” layer. Below is the orientation section for Psalm 5.
At-a-glance
This is the third of three sections of the synthesis layer. It has 3 elements: verse numbers/sections, section headings, and section summaries.
Verse numbers and sections
This visualisation represents the main sections from analysis of poetic structure (see the poetics layer). It is a simple, at-a-glance outline of the sections and main structural divisions of the psalm. Copy and paste from the template board, and include verse numbers to the left of the sections.
Section headings
For each section, provide a heading that encapsulates its significance in the minimum number of words. The section headings should help make sense of the psalm at-a-glance, so take care to use headings that are consistent with each other and tell a “story.” They should be only 1–2 words each.
Section summaries
For each section, provide a brief content summary. These summaries (phrase[s] or clause) should be taken directly from the text where possible. Below is the at-a-glance section for Psalm 5.
