Bible Translation and Bible Translators

I would like to tell you what I have learned about missionaries, who are bible translators, since living at the SIL Center.  I know that living with this mission and the people who serve here has helped me better understand what it really means to translate the bible.

The ones called here to do bible translation are amazing people.  They mostly come from churches who “grow” missionaries – it’s like it is in their DNA.  Many grew up as missionary kids so it is the life they knew and many come from churches and schools that nurture and send people to be missionaries. 

So if I were to give a simplistic overview as to why these missionaries are here, I would say - They felt called, led to this life.

My understanding of the process is that once one decides to be a missionary, one becomes part of a sending organization, i.e. Wycliffe.  Once accepted, one must raise support.  Then comes the preparation for actually being sent to a place to serve.  Learning a new language is often required.  For Niger, it is necessary to be fluent in French.  The missionaries we are with have all attended total immersion programs for a minimum of a year in Belgium or Quebec or France. While they all sound very proficient to me, several have expressed how very hard it is to be really good in French.  The every day interactions are no problem but having to give a talk they say is very difficult.

They also go to “culture” school and learn the realities of the life of the country they are choosing or being sent to.The ones here are college educated in linguistics and language translation and have been to bible school or seminary.  They are very committed to their people groups and their language projects.

I was surprised to learn all that goes into their work.  First is identifying a people group who speak a language that has no written form.  Then the translators have to learn that language so that they can communicate with the people.   Then they form an alphabet based on the sounds that they hear which then become words.  Words are then put into sentences..  The translators are always going back to the people to see if what and how they are saying something is right. 

Once they have the alphabet and a handle on the structure, they will begin with one book of the bible – often Genesis.  They use multiple sources – mainly Greek and Hebrew – to help them be true to the original meaning of the passages but eventually they have to communicate it in a way that the people group will understand.  It is a very long – many years process – like 30 years.  I was told you are never really finished, you just finally decide you have done what you can so you complete the project which is not the same as being finished!!  They spend a lot of time with the people – in Young Life terms – they are earning the right to be heard. 

They also do other communications too – like bible stories in a people group language - on cassettes.  They have Christian radio programming as another medium.  They have missionaries here who teach people how to read.  For what good does it do to translate the bible if you aren’t able to read it?  I get really excited about the literacy part.  I think that is why highlights of my time here are doing Zarma literacy with Mamata and helping Haoua (French spelling of Hawa) to learn to read.

Bible translators are self-described introverts.  The ones we know are faith filled and faithful, self motivated and God motivated.   They want people to know God through knowing Jesus.  They want to make a difference for Christ.  They accept the sovereignty of God.  They trust and obey, trying to live lives that glorify God – lives that honor what they profess. 

They are very respectful of the African/Muslim ways of doing things.  In this country, that is mostly Muslim, that translates into dressing very Nigerien. 

They are very resourceful – know how to change the oil and the tires on their cars.  They make bread from scratch and sew their clothes.  They make do with what they have and never complain about what they don’t have. 

They mostly go back to the states when their children start college.  They “worry” about their third world kids going back into American society.  I think most of them are very happy to raise their families here.

Their friendships are interesting.  The missionary community is not that large, so they need each other.  But they are also saying hello to someone new and good-bye to someone who is leaving for good or going on furlough for 6 months to a couple of years.  So their attachment to each other is “different.”  In fact, at the beginning of our church service they ask who has just come to Niger and who is leaving… every week they ask this and every week someone(s) stands up for each question.

Niger is not an easy place to be a missionary or to raise a family.  Some who have lived in more than one West African country would say that Niger is not their favorite.  And yet they sincerely seem to be glad to be here.

I have come to really appreciate and value the work of these translators.  I know I have taken for granted that I have a bible to read in my language.  Now I realize that some translator translated the bible into English and I am grateful.