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The Twelve Concepts for NA Service To fulfill our fellowship’s primary purpose, the NA groups have joined together to create a structure which develops, coordinates, and maintains services on behalf of NA as a whole. The final responsibility and authority for NA services rests with the NA groups. The NA groups delegate to the service structure the authority necessary to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it. Effective leadership is highly valued in Narcotics Anonymous. Leadership qualities should be carefully considered when selecting trusted servants. For each responsibility assigned to the service structure, a single point of decision and accountability should be clearly defined. Group conscience is the spiritual means by which we invite a loving God to influence our decisions. All members of a service body bear substantial responsibility for that body’s decisions and should be allowed to fully participate in its decision-making processes. Our service structure depends on the integrity and effectiveness of our communications. All elements of our service structure have the responsibility to carefully consider all viewpoints in their decision-making processes. Any member of a service body can petition that body for the redress of a personal grievance, without fear of reprisal. NA funds are to be used to further our primary purpose, and must be managed responsibly. In keeping with the spiritual nature of Narcotics Anonymous, our structure should always be one of service, never of government. The Twelve Concepts for NA Service were modeled on AA’s Twelve Concepts for World Service, published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., and have evolved specific to the needs of Narcotics Anonymous. 2 TranslationTranslation BasicsBasics NAWS Information for Local Translation Committees ® Building a translation: the foundation. Ever since the day the first Narcotics translation process as experienced by local NA Anonymous meeting was held outside an communities. We have kept a collection of English-speaking country, addicts have been files, minutes of meetings, notes from dreaming about what it would be like to have telephone conversations, mails, and faxes. NA literature in their own language. Local Now, after collecting information for years, translation committees (LTC) have been the we’ve summarized this experience in the driving force behind making those dreams into following pages. As LTCs learn new ways of reality for more than 40 language groups getting things done, we’ll continually add worldwide. Narcotics Anonymous World those experiences to this publication so that Services (NAWS), i.e., the World Board and all can benefit from it. This document is not to translations staff at the World Service Office be taken as a set of guidelines only, but is also (WSO), are grateful for the opportunity to the result of the shared experience of our share in this dream and work with LTCs toward worldwide fellowship with translations. Also, Some special the translation of NA literature. there are some rules that we all have to follow points of interest: Local translation committees have a great to satisfy legal requirements or to protect our deal of experience with translating NA fellowship’s literature, and those rules will be LTCs, as such, ought literature. In the past, Narcotics Anonymous explained in this document as well. always be organized, 4 World Services has conducted workshops for but how? LTCs to gather information about the First things first! How to prioritize your projects. 5 Getting started: how the NA literature translation process works. What is the evaluation Help is just a phone call, fax, email, or more members some years back, and then process and why do we 7 letter away. NAWS can be thought of as a sort forgotten, or there may be another NA com- need it? of experience library, and its translation staff munity that shares your language and has members are on hand to serve as “librarians.” completed some translation work. NA Speaks… 8 The World Board and staff are ready to help When we receive a request for assistance Languages (map) you with source material, a glossary that ex- with translations, we will send any information Who approves plains recovery terms, previous we have that could be helpful to translations? 10 translation work in your language, the specific language group, in- or anything you need to make cluding the most recent printings Can we sell and use your work successful. They are of our pamphlets in English. We drafts in our meetings? 10 also available to share experience also have descriptions of transla- on how to start your work and tion work experiences that sev- Revisions to published prioritize projects, as well as the eral LTCs have sent us for sharing literature 11 translation process in general. with other language groups. Basic Text The NAWS translations staff When it comes to communi- translations. 11 is the contact point for the World cation, we strive to keep it clear. Board, which is responsible for Complications and misunder- Our Members Share— safeguarding the translation of our message standings can happen so easily. Nothing is Personal stories. 11 through a conceptual evaluation-and-approval more discouraging for an LTC than spending a process. Any communications about these lot of time enthusiastically working on a trans- What about our books, matters to the World Board should be sent lation, making progress, and completing a does it matter which 12 through the Translations Team at the WSO draft, only to have the local fellowship not give comes first? ([email protected]). approval for its work. It is frustrating that this Translations Process The first step in beginning translation is often due to nothing more than a lack of Mapping—step-by-step 14 work is to find out what’s already been done. effective communication. Good communica- Check with NAWS to see if any translations of tion fosters a sense of trust and helps every- Translations on the 15 NA literature exist in your language. This may one involved, from the local fellowship to Internet be material that was translated by one or NAWS staff and the World Board. What about service materials? 16 3 LTCs, as such, ought always be organized, but how? Translation Basics Translations can begin even without a formal service structure. All it takes is a few dedicatedNA is growing people locally. who Butare if willing to form a group to createhas atranslation service committee, drafts. The your In the beginning… translations can progress while probably be formed by that your area, region, or country a small workgroup may form LTC experience has given us the following helpful local translation committee will service committee and be accountable formally to it. recognizedMembers ofas the an hints to get through the initial stages: committee may be elected, or on its own and later on may be Learn to walk before you try to run, or, in more familiar terms, “easy does it.” area or regional translation subcommittee. Your LTC should have the authority and responsibility for developing Make realistic plans for your meetings and your translations. This means that your LTC will do the actual work (set goals that are easy to fulfill, at least in translating and/or reviewing and make the decisions the beginning). required throughout the process. At the same time, Spread the work among several people; don’t accountability to your local NA community needs to be put too much work on a single member, even if maintained. This can be accomplished best with frequent the member is willing to do it. It’s easy to getreports to your local NA community and the World Board overwhelmed. through the NAWS translations staff. Because translations take time, especially the first piece If you disagree on how to translate, what terms should be used, and so on, let the group in a language, it may seem as if your LTC’s dedication is conscience decide. Don’t make decisions on really being tested. You will need all the support your NA your own. community can provide. The committee members should have a realistic idea of how long these projects can take, and Consult more than one dictionary in your work. should be prepared to commit themselves for the duration of You will sometimes be surprised when you see the project. the variations from one book to another. A small group, between five and seven members, is If possible, let a professional corrector (or usually more manageable and stable than a large group. proofreader) go over your draft before you send LTCs should try, whenever possible,as possible, to have yourat least LTC shouldthree it to the WSO. regular members. Regular meetings will ensure that the work keeps moving forward. As muchsatisfaction about the work. Vary the work that single members or working groups are doing. For instance, if some members operate by consensus. Seeking a group conscience seems to foster a sense of unity and gs; it really depends on how have been translating only, let these members When it comes to the actual work, there is, of course, work with the revisions, and vice versa. Boredom more than one way of doing thin can cause members to drop out ofT rserviceansl ajusttio ns at like overwork can. NAWS started in many members there are in the committee. The collective 1985 with French, experience of LTCs has generated thedoes following the translations, possibilities: but Take good care of each German, Spanish, Italian, and Japa- If your committee is small (three to five members): other. We are recov- nese; we used ASCII ering addicts, not codes to type the One person in the committee machines. accents on the ê, the whole committee goes over the work and makes the ç, ñ, and ü….

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