Language and Communication

Bible Translation

From Translation to Effective Communication

Ernst-August Gutt (1988)

Considering now that in Bible translation we are taking the same texts that were written for audiences two thousand or more years ago in a particular corner of the world and presenting them to audiences today, ranging from industrial societies…

RichardMarch 3, 2009

Culture Language Issues

Why compete? Creating new functions for the use of the New Testament

Sue A. Harris (1997)

The availability of Scripture in the traditional language is not enough to ensure shifting the patterns of language use already established in the church. In the Galat community the traditional language is used for informal, in-group communication in the domains…

RichardFebruary 27, 2009

Bible Translation Culture Language Issues

Goal: Vernacular Scriptures in Use

A case study from the Paez of Colombia

Marianna Slocum (1987)

We have found that these three factors—the credibility factor, the comprehension factor, and the prestige factor—are all-important components in promoting the use of a newly introduced vernacular translation in a newly written language. This case history of the Paez, a…

RichardFebruary 25, 2009

Audio Bible Storytelling Drama Memorising Scripture Music and Worship Orality

How to Make Oral Communication More Effective

Communicating effectively to non-readers

Rick Brown (2004)

In seeking to free ourselves from the biases of a print-oriented culture, we need to consider, not only the kinds of media and discourse genre (e.g. narrative) that are most appropriate for oral cultures, but also the most effective ways…

RichardFebruary 24, 2009

Bible Storytelling Bible Translation Orality

Selecting and Using Scripture Portions Effectively in Frontier Missions

The first foot forward in Scripture selection?

Rick Brown (2001)

Most frontier Bible translators would agree that one of the major goals of their role in the total mission task is that the receptor language community would gain access to adequate Scriptures. Scriptures may be defined as being "adequate" when…

RichardFebruary 19, 2009

Orality

Communicating God’s Message in an Oral Culture

Communicating effectively to non-readers

Rick Brown (2004)

It is only natural for us to bring to our work the bias of our own ways of thinking, learning, and communicating. But unless we can adapt our communications to our audience, we will limit our audience to those who…

RichardFebruary 19, 2009

Bible Translation Language Issues

Promoting vernacular Scriptures where a national language translation is venerated

David L Payne (1988)

One of the major obstacles for the acceptance of an idiomatic translation of the Scriptures into a vernacular language where there is some form of established church is that often there is a strong veneration of a translation of the…

RichardFebruary 16, 2009

Language Issues Marketing and Distribution

Diglot New Testaments – Pros and cons

Warren Glover (1982)

Arguments against a diglot version focus on matters of cost, production time, and difficulty, and bulkiness versus ease of handling. Arguments for the diglot are mostly in the area of factors which will promote the use of the publication. The…

RichardFebruary 16, 2009

Bible Study Discipleship Literacy

Literacy for Life: a Tool for the Church?

A church-based literacy program for Ghana

Pat Herbert (2006)

The pastor will find that not only can his congregation read the Scriptures in their own language, but they will show a greater depth of understanding God’s Word and show growth in their Christian lives. Community literacy projects have been…

RichardFebruary 14, 2009

Advocacy Bible Translation Language Issues Marketing and Distribution

The use and lack of use of translated Scriptures

Margaret Hill (2000)

Common factors emerge that affect Scripture use: level of literacy, prestige of the language, and attitude of church leaders. A wide variety of reasons account for published Scriptures not being used. They include a lack of literacy, a language that…

RichardFebruary 2, 2009