Featured How to Do an Oral Translation

Let's say you are a missionary to Africa, working with a tribe where many speak English, but their native language or dialect is unwritten. The decision is made to do an oral (or audio) translation of the NT. How would you set out to do this?

1. Goals?
2. Procedures?
3. Choosing national translators?
4. Training the translators?
5. Time tables?
6. The role of missionaries?
7. The role of nationals?
8. Recording or memorizing?

 

So in this modern scenario, do you see the translators memorizing everything, or using a recording device? If a recording device, what would it be?

 

This is a very important point.

Rather than theological training, I was thinking of training in translation methodology.

But this brings up an important point. There are some theological words that need to be chosen early on. The argument about using "Allah" for God is well-known. Lesser known to Americans is the argument about the Chinese word for God: Shen or Sheng Dian.

I'm thinking that a translation consultant would be a guide as to which words should be chosen. Discussions should be held examining the nuances of terms in order to choose the right one.

 

That's kind of how I was thinking of the process.

I hope you or someone else technologically astute will suggest the best recording device for the actual translation process. I'm assuming CDs or even DVDs with cheap players can be provided later.

 

It's a third world country, so electricity will be an issue, though how much of an issue is not known.

Good thoughts. Thank you. I knew mp3 existed but never have used it or thought about it much.

 

Thanks for the input. Now that you mention it, the last time I went to a 3rd world country, everyone had a cell phone.

 

Maybe the same is true in Africa. That would be cool!

 

That is helpful information. Thank you.

And welcome to the BB.

 

Thanks much for this link. It looks like an excellent tool.

 

The reason for this thread: I am the consultant for a new project to produce oral translations in a pidgin language and in a previously unwritten language which has no Bible portions whatsoever. I leave today for Africa with a young student from our schools to train African translators for the project, and will be there until April 9.

I would appreciate any prayers you can offer up for me, especially for the project. Also, there are a lot of diseases there (I've been vaccinated for Yellow Fever, typhoid and Hep. A & B). Boko Haran operates in the N. of the country, but I'll be in the S., so that should be okay.