3/13/2009

Bible Schedule of Events

Translation • 5:00-5:15 – Bible Translation – the concept behind it
• 5:15-5:30 - Videos
• 5:30-5:45 – Bible Translation – the process behind it
Into ‘Minority’ • 5:45-6:05 - Translation Exercise
Languages • 6:05-6:15 - Presentations & Review
• 6:15-6:20 – Break
• 6:20-6:40 – JCTP: An Introduction
Presenter: Bertram Gayle (Jr)
Co-ordinator, JCTP • 6:40-6:50 – Q & A

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What’s a Minority Language? The Concept Behind BT

From a Purely non-Christian Perspective

Try formulating your own definition!
Socio-economic liberation & empowerment

Was your definition setting specific?
Preservation, standardisation & stabilisation of languages

Eg: for the purposes of the European Charter for
Language development
Regional or Minority Languages:
Opportunity for systematic study
"regional or minority languages" means languages:
Cultural enrichment & preservation

traditionally used within a given territory of a State by nationals

Enhancing & sustaining a sense of identity & worth
of that State who form a group numerically smaller than the rest
of the State's population; and
Facilitating literacy -information booklets, documenting

different from the official language(s) of that State. traditional cultural knowledge...

Within SIL/WBTI, “minority language” refers to:
Spin off products of Vernacular Bibles capitalised on by

One of the thousands of languages of the world that typically musicians, poets, drama writers, etc.
does not enjoy official status, long histories of being written, wide
Change attitudes – towards language / language
geographic distribution, etc.
3 users…..justice 4

The Concept Behind BT (cont’d) The Concept Behind BT (cont’d)

From a Christian Perspective Bible Translators see BT as a double-edged
“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them…teaching
sword!
them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matt 28:19-20)!

Evangelism
Primarily

The Good News re: Jesus, the Christ
spiritual nourishment

New churches: Mexico, Philippines, PNG, Brazil, etc…

Secondarily

Discipleship

maintaining life and improving the quality

BT has not kept us with Evangelism

Feeding the Bibleless Church

of people’s material existence

Growth, nurture, development, maturity (cf 2 Tim 3:16ff).

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Videos
1. The Ultimate Goal

The glory of God

The Joy of all Peoples The Translation
2. A Flower Unfolds Process

Suriname Javanese NT

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The Process behind BT The Translation Process

• For pioneer translators, BT isn’t the beginning! 12: Final read-through

Language Survey 11: Final editing

Language acquisition 10: Testing and reviewing

Linguistic description 9: Consultant check

• Phonetics & Phonology 8: Back-translation

• Orthography 7: Preliminary testing

• Grammar 6: Key biblical terms

• Lexicography 5: Team check

Cultural description 4: Keyboarding

• Anthropology – religion, politics, economics, etc… 3: Supplementary helps

Bible Translation 2: Drafting

Literacy / Scripture Use (eg. ethnomusicology) 1: Exegesis

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Translation Exercise!!! Translation Guidelines

1. Read the section in two different versions (5 mins)
Translate Luke 10:25-37 into idiomatic Jamaican Creole a. Choose one version that is more literal

that follows the structure of the original language text closely,
• This passage comes early in the third division of Luke.

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. b. and one that is more meaning based

He is preparing his disciples for the time when he will no
that aims to communicate the meaning as effectively as possible.
longer be with them.
2. Translate into idiomatic Jamaican Creole (10 mins)

Notice the reference to Samaria in
Luke 9:51-56. 3. Test your translation with several speakers of your target

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Translation Guidelines (cont’d)

Make mental or written notes of what was hard to
translate, and where you needed to make adjustments
to the form of the text to make the translation
communicate well and appropriately:

Did you use footnotes?

Did you have to explain cultural items?

Did you need to change idioms, metaphors or figures
of speech?

What other adjustments did you make?
BREAK
Meet the Current Team
3/13/2009
Translations in Review

Do you think translating a biblical text is more difficult
than translating a ‘secular’ test?

Did you learn anything from doing this exercise? What?

What can you do in the future to make this task easier?

What testing activities did you use to improve your
translation?

What kind of changes did you make as a result of the
testing?

Anything else?
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Jamaican Creole Translation Project
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JCTP: An Introduction

Part of Worldwide Movement

BT in ethnolinguistic minority communities

WBTI has helped to translate 740 NTs and Bibles rep. over 82m!

6,486 WBTI personnel; presently working in 93 countries

1,998 programmes reaching 1.2b in progress

Caribbean Translations

7 completed Bibles: - Haitian, Yacatan, Papiamentu, Wai Wai, etc 1

16 completed NTs: -Aukan, St Lucian, Sranan Tongo, Gullah, etc 2

9 portions:- Pemon, Islander Creole English (San Andres), etc 3

5 in progress: - Akawaio, Guadeloupean, Wapishana, T&T Sign
Language, Jamaican, etc4
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JCTP: An Introduction (cont’d) JCTP: Challenges

The History of JCTP

1980 – a mandate and its findings
Linguistic

1985 – the turning point
“Post-Creole Continuum”

1993 – the launch
Orthographical

Productions
Sociolinguistic

“A Who Run Things” (June, 1996)

Socially under-appreciation

“Di Krismos Story” (December, 2003)

The Battle for functional domains

(52% of the NT translated)

Lexicology

Subsequent Projects

Luuk Buk Project

Format: Audio vs Written

Jamaican Creole Translation Project (2008)
Harmony vs Conflict Model
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JCTP: Challenges (cont’d) Misconceptions Encountered

Non-linguistic As to:

what constitutes a language

Conflictual Translation Philosophies

the value of creole: backward

The Biblical Texts

the nature of creole: broken

Scripture Use
appropriate use of creole

Gap Bridging
the expense: acceptable if cheap

Public Awareness
the BT process

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“Concerns” Encountered Career Opportunities!!!

Religious Concerns :
Language Work

It demeans the Bible
7. Language Survey
1. Anthropology

Translation does not guarantee a conversion 8. Linguistic Computing

Traditional translations have been of value
2. Arts Consultant
9. Literacy

Developmental & Political Concerns: 3. Bible Translation
10. Scripture Use

Global competitiveness discouraged
4. Chronological Bible 11. Training Language

Illiteracy and ignorance promoted

Promoting Creole is detrimental to SJE Storying Workers

Psychological Concern:
5. Community Development 12. Vernacular Media

Creole reminiscent of a past one would rather forget
6. Ethnomusicologist
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Career Opportunities (cont’d) References

Krieger, John., “Why is Bible Translation” ULR

Non-Language Work http://www.ginesys.com/bibletranslation.htm
1. Admin / Management
Clarke, David., Minority Language Status & Attitudes Toward Bible
9. Marketing / Media Translation
2. Archives / Exhibits 10. Medical Services
Ross, Ronald., “Issues in Creole Language Translation”

European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, Strasbourg,
3. Children's Education 11. Recruitment 5.XI. 1992 ULR
http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/Treaties/Html/148.htm
4. Finance 12. Telecommunications
Wycliffe Int’l - Progress of Bible Translation Statistics 2008
5. Government Relations
Barnwell, Katharine., Bible Translation: An Introductory Course in
13. Training Translation Principles
6. Hospitality
Graham, Barbara, The Attitudes of Jamaican Christians to the
14. Transportation and Translation of the Bible into Jamaican Creole
7. Operations
The Daily Observer – “The Patois Bible” – several articles
15. Lots more…!

The Gleaner – “Patois Bible in Pan-African and Pan-Caribbean context”
8. Information Tech
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