1. Following the message of God's Word more easily in Namibia
By the Rev Dr Francois Sieberhagen.
“I love this work. It’s a real passion for me” Sally Kauluma is in no doubt about why she
has devoted herself full-time to the revision of the Ochikwanyama Bible. And while the
revision will help speakers of this language to
understand God’s Word more easily, her long-
term goal is even more ambitious: a
completely new translation.
Mrs Kauluma was born in the US but has an
in-depth knowledge of Ochikwanyama, which
is spoken by 700 000 people in Namibia and
420 000 in neighbouring Angola.
“I am a linguist and when I married my
husband I learned Ochikwanyama. When I returned to Namibia in 1978 after my
husband became the Bishop of the Anglican Church in Namibia, I continued my studies
of the language. I began reading the Bible in Ochikwanyama and noticed some
problems with the translation. When the Bible Society of Namibia asked for people to
work on the editorial committee, the Anglican Church nominated me.”
UBS Translation Consultant Dr Gerrit van Steenbergen, who is overseeing the revision
project, elaborates on some of the challenges the editorial team of four have had to
address.
“The existing translation, which was published in 1974, lacks a proper theoretical basis,”
he explains. “Some parts are a literal translation and others tend to be a more dynamic
equivalent translation.”
The revision process began in 2004 and has covered a number of different areas.
Anticipating the impact
“A new orthography for Ochikwanyama had been developed since the existing
translation was published and it was felt that this should be incorporated,” he continues.
“We wanted to eliminate errors and inconsistencies and we have also added some
reader helps and maps. We are now at the point where the manuscript will soon be
ready for typesetting.”
The final stages are being completed in Johannesburg, where Mrs Kauluma is spending
time with her daughter. “We use email and text messages to keep in contact with the
other members of the team. Distance is not a problem and technology has helped us to
make progress,” emphasises Dr van Steenbergen.
With completion now in sight, Mrs Kauluma is eagerly anticipating the impact of the
revised Ochikwanyama Bible.
“We have not changed the basic character of the translation, but I hope that the people
will follow the message more easily as a result of the revision,” Mrs Kauluma says. “My
prayer, though, is for a completely new translation to be made soon. The people really
need it.”