Answers to Part 2-4

2. Bible Translators Have Multiple Tasks

The work of a Bible translator is very different from someone who is translating a work of literature, such as Homer’s Odyssey from Greek into English, Calvin’s Institutes from Latin into Korean, or Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress from EnglishintoSwahili.Inthosecases,thetranslator typically translates into a target language he has grown up speaking. The translators have studied the source language (e.g., Greek, Latin) for many years and may even speak it. They have dictionaries, grammars and spelling guides for the target language at their disposal, not to mention Google Search and Google Translate. They usually work in isolation, with maybe one or two other people checking the work once it is ready to be published. These translators can be considered“armchairtranslators,” workingfrom their desks at home.

A Bible translator, on the other hand, is a field translator, working in a target language that is not their own. In most cases the target language has neverbeenwrittendown and lacksaspelling guide, a grammar, a dictionary and printed books. Their task is therefore much more demanding and comprehensive. Though there is considerablevariationindifferentcontexts,here are a few tasks that Bible translators also usually have to do.

They have to learn to speak an unwritten language, just from interacting with people they live with, typically in rural villages. This step alone takes years. They have to do basic linguistic analysis in order to design an alphabet, discover and describe the grammar of the language, and collect words for a dictionary.

They have to find and train local translators (members of the translation team), organize and manage such a team, teach the team members translationprinciples,andhelpwithcheckingthe translation in the village. They often have to teach people to read and write in their own language,ensuringthatthespellingisusableand acceptable. They also need to produce other easyreading booksthatcan pavetheway forthe publication of God’s Word.

They have to organize Scripture Use activities, helping people to see the value and power of having God’s Word in their own language, through group readings, Bible study, Bible drama, and other activities involving the Bible.

They have to establish and maintain relationships in the community, not only with neighbors and members of the translation team, but also with pastors and church leaders (often more than one denomination), and teachers and government leaders. Relationships are vital in rural communities and critical for the acceptability of a Bible translation. Much time can go into this aspect of the work.

In short, Bible translators often undertake the broader task of language development as a necessary strategy toward making translated text usable and used by the community.

3. Bible Translators Have Multiple Roles

While they are on the field, Bible translators fulfill various other roles besides being translatorsandfieldlinguistsasdescribedabove. Here are some of these roles:

They are cross-cultural workers who are guests in a foreign culture, with all its accompanying stresses relating to housing, food, climate, health care, physical fitness, use of time and money, computers and printers, friendships and relaxation.

They are often spouses and parents, who have to maintain healthy marriages and deal with parenting issues in a cross-cultural setting, as well as sometimes home-schooling of young children.

They are missionaries sent out by their home churches,withwhomtheyneedtocommunicate on a regular basis about their lives and their work.

They are members of a field organization [such as Wycliffe], which has its own structure and its requests and demands for time. This can be professionally (e.g. training to be a consultant in order to help other translation teams), organizationally (serving as part of the administration for a season, or on the Executive Committee, or the school board), or spiritually (serving on the Sunday Services committee, preaching in the Sunday service).

4. Personal Factors

Bible translators need to be well-educated, having knowledge of the Bible, biblical languages, linguistics and translation theory. In addition, they also need to be:

• Self-funded - able to build a network of partners who provide money for the translator (and family) to live and work to the completion of the translation project.

• Self-motivated - able to retain their motivation, even in trying circumstances.

• Self-managed - able to work independently without close supervision.

• Self-paced - able to set and maintain a pace of work that is sustainable.

The combination of all these factors has different effects on different people, often dependent on personalities and family situations. Some people thrive, but others struggle, finding it hard to maintain a healthy balance between work and rest. One thing is clear: keeping all these balls in the air takes a lot of time and energy. Not surprisingly, physical andemotionalburnout,aswellasfacingspiritual opposition, are all factors that many Bible translators have to deal with in their life. Thus the need for missionary care!

Conclusion

Each New Testament or an entire Bible that gets published is a tribute to the enormous commitmentanddedicationofthelocalandwell as Wycliffe translators, literacy workers plus support personnel who come along side of translators such as teachers for missionary children, finance personnel, pilots, health care workers andeven thosewho provide HR support and government relations and church relations personnel.

None of this would happen at all if there are not a team of financial and prayer supporters who not only sent missionaries out, but also support them over the long haul to see translations completed. Its one thing to start a Bible translation project, but it takes people dedicated to the long haul to see the work to completion so language communities have the whole Bible!

The more remote the location, the more difficult it is to support translation projects. What is available locally makes a difference as does the educational levels of the general populations and security on the ground also determines how often and when translators can visit certain areas.

General services in a place like Papua New Guinea are in many ways improving, but for some time to come, support of people, finances and prayer will be needed fromchurches around the world