BT part two

1. • Bible Translation
in Today’s
World(Part Two)

2. The Bible:
The Bible is a co-authored book.
a. God is the primary author;
b. Men of God were the secondary
authors.
c. The result is that one and the same
set of words are both God’s and
man’s.
So, whatever God said in Scripture, they
said. And whatever they said, God said.

3. The Source of Inspiration
1. Who? God
2. How? By Revelation
3. When? 1500 B.C. to A.D. 100

4. History of Bible
translation

5. IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN BIBLE TRANSLATION
Ten Commandments written in Hebrew on stones by God himself
Old Testament written by men chosen by God, also mostly in Hebrew
(Daniel, some of Ezra, and 1 verse in Jeremiah – Aramic)
New Testament written by men chosen by God, in Koine Greek – 1st
century
First translation into another language (Latin) by Jerome -- 4th
century
Latin Vulgate outlives it’s purpose by the middle ages
John Wycliffe first translates the Vulgate into English -- 14th
century
Gutenberg press revolutionizes printing with moveable type -- 15th
century
First Bible published on Gutenberg press -- 15th
century
William Tyndale translates Bible from Hebrew and Greek -- 15th
century
Martin Luther translates Bible to German -- 15th
century
King James I authorizes scholars in first group translation -- 16th
century
First non-European scriptures translated into Malay language -- 17th
century
John Eliot translates Bible for Massachusetts Indians -- 18th
century
William Carey translates Bible into a few Asian Indian languages 19th
century
Cameron Townsend translates Bible into Guatemalan languages 20th
century
Wycliffe Bible Translators established in US 1942 20th
century
Less than 2,000 world languages still needing bible translation 21st
century

6. Johannes Gutenberg originator
of the first movable type
printing press approx. 1440AD

7. Translation of Bible OT, NT, & portions
Year Available in languages
360 2 Gothic added
405 3 Latin added
1500 20
1800 67
1910 722
1982 1,763
2011 2,696

8. So where are we
today
In Bible translation?

9. Approximate status of worldwide Bible translation 2015
6,900+
...the number of languages spoken in the world
today
1,900+
...the number of languages without any of the
Bible, but with a possible need for a Bible
translation to begin
about 350 million
...the number of people who speak the 1,900+
languages where Bible translation projects have
not yet begun
nearly 1,500
...the number of Bible translation programs
where Wycliffe is currently at work
1300 +/-
...the number of language groups that have
access to the New Testament in their heart
language
500 +/-
..the number of language groups that have
access to the entire Bible in the language they
understand best
about 7 billion …approximate population of the world

10. Location of 75% world’s
languages with greatest need:
Central Mainland & Indonesia
Africa Southeast & the
& Nigeria: Asia Pacific Islands
450+/- 450+/- 600+/-

11. DISTRIBUTION OF WORLD LANGUAGES
Greatest need: 10 degrees below – 40 degrees above Equator

12. AFRICA
Language
Distribution

13. ASIA
Language distribution

14. PACIFIC
Language distribution

15. A few of the Bible translation
agencies:
• Wycliffe Global Alliance (which includes WBT,
SIL, WA, JAARS, TSC & other related agencies)
• Lutheran Bible Translators
• New Tribes Mission
• Pioneer Bible Translators
• World Team
• United Bible Societies (UBS)
• The Word for the World

16. Wycliffe’s Vision 2025
By the year 2025 a Bible translationBy the year 2025 a Bible translation
project will be in progress for everyproject will be in progress for every
people group that needs it.people group that needs it.

17. Typical steps of Bible translation
(past model):
• Church not normally actively engaged in project except as a sponsor.
• Many times most work done by expatriate workers
• Survey made of considered area: Demographics of population, etc.
• Assign lead translator: experience, education, support, logistics, budget
• Translator arrives in country: sets up housekeeping, etc.
• Learning national or trade language: e.g. Malay, English
• Learning the specific tribal language and culture: e.g. Bidayuh, Rungus, etc.
• Housing in bush location and getting to know people (can take several years)
• Securing help of Mother Tongue Speakers
• Beginning translation: language conventions, cluster considerations, local
authority approvals, etc.
• Collateral work: Branch responsibilities, workshops, literacy for nationals
• Checking of translation: accuracy, UNS checking, back translation, final check
• Final check of draft with corrections
• Publication approval
• Post publication work

19. Tobilung language translator
at his computer in Kota
Belud, Malaysia 2009

20. Translator’s computer showing 16
individual screens side by side.
Translator’s computer with 16 open screens.

21. Bidayuh language translation team,
Kuching, Malaysia 2011

23. So where do we go from here?
• Current trends towards speeding translation
include paradigm shifts in translation work –
From: activity To: God’s invitation
Western missions Global church
International miss. Global Alliance
Missionary paradigm National aspiration
Western leadership Multi-centric leaders
Western autonomy Global interdependence

24. Changing Aspects of Bible Translation:
1.Assessment of need & prioritization of BT projects
2.Translation training & exegetical resources
3.Translation process and methodologies
4.The technology tools to facilitate the work
5.The process of checking translated Scripture
6.The authority for certification of translated Scripture
7.The publishing process and output formats
8.The means and responsibility for distribution
9.The counting and statistics pertaining to translation
needs, projects, and finished Bible translations
10.The funding of translation projects

25. INVOLVING PEOPLEINVOLVING PEOPLE
IN THEIN THE
ADVANCEMENT OFADVANCEMENT OF
BIBLE TRANSLATIONBIBLE TRANSLATION
MISSION OFMISSION OF
WYCLIFFEWYCLIFFE
ASSOCIATESASSOCIATES
God has prepared the
Church for works of
service. We were
created for this!
Eph. 2:10, Eph. 4:11-13

26. Wycliffe Associates
Headquarters in Orlando, FL

27. Wycliffe Associates
Niche Document
Wycliffe Associates’ mission is involving people in the advancement of Bible translation.
Wycliffe Associates supports only Bible translations that use accurate and literal common language
terms for “Father” and “Son” when referring to God and Jesus Christ by:
1.recruiting people to fill high-priority positions, respond to strategic opportunities and emergencies, and train
local personnel for long-term service,
2.providing an operational field structure to maximize the effectiveness of field team members,
3.designing, developing, and sustaining infrastructure to support translation teams,
4.funding initial goal or full-translation project starts in new languages, cluster-translation strategies, and
translation in limited-access countries,
5.and funding projects linked to Associates’ service.
The kinds of strategies in which Wycliffe Associates partners have the following characteristics:
•Strategies prioritize Vision 2025 goals for new translation starts.
•Strategies prioritize scripture impact in people groups in the Top 20 Countries containing 90% of the remaining
Bible translation need.
•Strategies prioritize Bible translation and early scripture impact for individuals and communities.
•Strategies leverage innovation, technology, and teamwork to produce objective results.
•Strategies value and maximize the unique strengths of each partner.

28. Challenge: V2025…more than halfway there!
Solution: Continue to develop new partnerships,
explore new strategies/initiatives, be creative!
• Support High Priority Partners / Places
• Support for Language Cluster projects
• Stay focused!
• Utilize GSS platform
• Community Development projects (Clean water, ELL, etc.)
• Technology Advancement
• Prayer! I Kings 3: 5-14

29. To date 295 languages communities served by
WA Technology Advancement team!
• Number of languages served – 295 3G installations - 16
• BTAKS - 200 Cell amplifiers - 17
• BGANS - 90 Other equipment installed - 10
• Laptops - 204 Luke Partnership Workshops - 17
• Solar panel installations - 23 Countries Served - 27

30. BTAK being used in Uganda –
Note the BTAK items:
solar panel on ground
Transmitter on inside of lid orange box
(pointed towards the satellite)
Notebook computer on table
Battery backup may be in orange box

31. 200 BTAK deployments in 27 countries!
Worldwide BTAK deployments WW

32. 54 BTAK
deployments
to date!

33. www.globalsouthservices.com

34. GSS; Jasa Ima-ii Associates; Bridge Connectivity Solutions; LinguaTec;
GSS Holdings LLC; Net Access Nigeria; GJC Kunming, Int’l Holdings,
Tbili Springs Services, Neta EW Connections, Bahasa Tech. Solutions
The GSS family of organizations

35. WA worldwide project involvement
255 projects in 77 countries

36. Individual Partners (Nodes)
Network of Partners (Clusters)
Partner Hubs (Hubs)
BILD Associates (Hierarchies and Communities)
The World of Civilizations: Post 1990

37. What Happens When a Crowd Translates the Bible?

40. What can you do to help? . . .
for all people to have
the Bible in a language
they know best. . .
sooner rather than later.
1.Pray
2.Go – volunteers needed
3.Give – funding appreciated

41. JAARS designed & manufactured
Bug and Bite Zapper
Miscellany: Show & Tell

42. 4 of the Wycliffe family of organizations
websites:
• www.wycliffe.net
• www.wycliffeassociates.org
• www.wycliffe.org
• www.sil.org

43. END