The Spoken English Bible is creating the first oral Bible translation in English. It’s intended audience is American English speakers of the younger generations (late 30s and under) who have minimal biblical knowledge.
There have been hundreds of oral Bible translations started in the last few years. Oral Bible translations need oral translation resources. These must cover aspects of meaning directly related to performance, and must be delivered in an oral manner. Current translation resources, like Translator’s Notes, do not meet these new needs. The Spoken English Bible (SEB) is tasked with creating oral translation resources by creating a model oral Bible translation in English and a companion oral commentary series and encyclopedia of key concepts told as stories.
The Spoken English Bible has also created a new type of phone and web application, designed to serve as an interconnected digital oral study Bible. Listeners can listen to the translation and then listen to whatever portions of the commentary they find interesting. The app is called “Akuo” which means “I hear” in biblical Greek, and is available at akuobible.org and in the Google Play and Apple App stores.
The Spoken English Bible’s YouTube channel will be the home of a series of videos explaining translation principles and challenges to modern American English viewers.
