Comparisons

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Wycliffe Associates doesn’t just think that they are doing Bible translation correctly and best, they also claim they can translate the whole New Testament in lightning speed while other translators take years.

On their website Wycliffe Associates states, “This method can be used even with small groups of believers in the most remote locations—opening up a pathway for thousands of new translation projects that would otherwise not be possible for decades to come!”[1]

Comparing translation projects against each other is dangerous.

Some languages have co-translators with a high interest level but no schooling past eight years old. Others have co-translators with master’s degrees who speak multiple languages. Some walk into a village and have access to modern facilities, while others work just to build a house that won’t fall when earthquakes hit. In Papua New Guinea, some projects were on the coast, and you could travel there easily, while others were remote and involved flying, dangerous sea travel, river travel, helicopter or hiking. With seasonal weather affecting this great variability of terrain, there is no set way to get anywhere. Adaptability is key.

My parents worked on the Nabak translation before the start of the computer age and when we got our first computer, I remember typing many sheets of Nabak scriptures from hard copy into digital. Other translations that are started now have access to satellite phones, internet, digital commentaries, apps, laptops, printers, solar chargers and more. Techniques are changing, which makes direct comparison useless.

Our friends, the Whiteheads, spent 40 years on a translation in Papua New Guinea. Rob is a brilliant linguist and worked with one of the most complex languages on earth. The local people they wanted involved were reluctant, so part of the work was building their interest and the scripture-in-use program, but, most importantly, Rob spent months out of each year helping other translators unravel the grammatical complications of their languages.

The Risk family (not their real name) spent 20 years translating the New Testament. During that time Sue Risk had 13 miscarriages, many health concerns, and would often work on the translation while lying in bed with the laptop propped on her chest. The Risks were held up at gun point. Jim was in a terrible car accident and came close to death.

What about the couple that took 25 years to complete their translation because they had to work in secret, changing apartments to stay under the radar, changing who they worked with to not bring trouble to the local Christians? What about the translators who must hold a regular job so they can have a visa to stay in the country, but then work nights and weekends on translation? How can you judge their speed?

What about the amazing couple from Canada, who work on translation in India? They have a Black Pepper plantation and business as a way of training and raising money for their local translators. Isn’t it a better idea to support locals doing Bible translation, rather than “finishing” the process in record time?

Second Corinthians 10:12 in The Message version says: “But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.”

 

[1] https://wycliffeassociates.org/our-impact/translation-strategies/

Comments

  1. RonJuly 8, 2022 at 9:37 PM

    Iny humble, though accurate, opinion, I believe the Great Commission is initially about 'discipleship' not salvation. Discipleship requires time to build a trusting relationship.
    Shortcuts, such as quicker can be better, when it comes to translation are about exactly opposite to integrity relationship (s).

    ReplyDelete

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