TRANSLATION TRAINING MANUAL FOR MOTHER TONGUE TRANSLATORS Edited and Adapted by Mark Wannemacher November 1998, Revised 2016 TRANSLATION TRAINING MANUAL FOR MOTHER TONGUE TRANSLATORS The book "Translation Training Manual for Mother Tongue Translators" was primarily adapted from the book "Translation Time" by Chris Kilham, with additional units adapted from "Handbook for Mother Tongue Translator Programs" by Jerry Allen, and "Bible Translation" by Katy Barnwell. Edited and Adapted by Mark Wannemacher This book was prepared for use by second language English speakers. November 1998, Revised 2016 Translation Training Manual for Mother Tongue Translators Table of Contents INTRODUCTION, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, AND BACKGROUND Introduction for Bible Translators .............................................................................................. 1 How The Bible Came To Us ...................................................................................................... 3 Planning a Mother Tongue Translation Program ..................................................................... 13 Stages of a Bible Translation Project ....................................................................................... 17 Training For A Mother Tongue Translation Program .............................................................. 21 Personnel for a Translation Project .......................................................................................... 23 Bible Translator’s Library ........................................................................................................ 29 Living and Working in Another Culture .................................................................................. 31 Written Language And Punctuation ......................................................................................... 41 An Introduction To Grammar .................................................................................................. 47 Finding And Organizing Information ...................................................................................... 59 Bible Overview and Structure .................................................................................................. 63 TRANSLATION TRAINING UNITS 1-25 Unit 1 Different Languages Arrange Words Differently ......................................................... 71 Unit 2 Different Languages Use A Different Number of Words ............................................. 75 Unit 3 A Translation Must Be Accurate, Clear and Natural .................................................... 79 Unit 4 Different Kinds of Stories ............................................................................................. 85 Unit 5 Know the Whole Story.................................................................................................. 93 Unit 6 More to Know About the Whole Story ......................................................................... 99 Unit 7 How to Translate New or Difficult Words ................................................................. 105 Unit 8 All Languages Have Similar Words, but the Exact Meanings Might be Different .... 111 Unit 9 How to Choose the Best Word for Translation ........................................................... 119 Unit 10 Putting Words Together ............................................................................................ 123 Unit 11 How to Translate More Accurately ........................................................................... 129 Unit 12 How to Identify and Translate Abstract Nouns......................................................... 137 Unit 13 Translating the Order of Events in a Story ............................................................... 143 Unit 14 How To Translate Passive Sentences ....................................................................... 149 Unit 15 Introduction to Figurative Language ......................................................................... 157 Unit 16 How to Translate Figurative Language ..................................................................... 163 Unit 17 How to Translate Idioms ........................................................................................... 169 Unit 18 Rhetorical Questions ................................................................................................. 177 Unit 19 Translating Words About Feelings and Non-Direct Language ................................. 187 Unit 20 Actions In Different Cultures Have Different Meanings .......................................... 195 Unit 21 Adding Known Information to Your Translation ..................................................... 199 Unit 22 Sentence Structure .................................................................................................... 209 Unit 23 Mainline and Supportive Information ....................................................................... 219 Unit 24 Who is the Bible Written For? .................................................................................. 227 Unit 25 Translating Different Styles of Language ................................................................. 233 APPENDICES 1-9 Appendix 1 The Steps of Translation for the First Draft of the Books of the Bible .............. 241 Appendix 2 Two Steps In Translating ................................................................................... 243 Appendix 3 Review of the Translation Process ..................................................................... 245 Appendix 4 Translation Progress Chart ................................................................................. 247 Appendix 5 How to Test the Translation ............................................................................... 249 Appendix 6 How to Use Comprehension Questions to Test Translation for Understanding 253 Appendix 7 Getting Ready for the Consultant ....................................................................... 257 Appendix 8 Reviewing Translation ....................................................................................... 259 Appendix 9 Other Helpful Information for Bible Translators ............................................... 263 Introduction For Bible Translators 1 INTRODUCTION FOR BIBLE TRANSLATORS THE LANGUAGES OF THE BIBLE A long time ago men wrote God's words on paper. They wrote in two different languages. One language is called Hebrew. This was the language of the Israelites. God spoke to them in their own language, and they wrote down what He said in their own language. The books they wrote were put together and called the Old Testament. Here is Genesis 11:1-9 in Hebrew: Later on many of the Israelites forgot their language. Once men from the place called Babylon came and fought the Israelites. They beat the Israelites and took them back to their country to work for them. At another time men from Assyria did this same thing to the Israelites again. Both times the Israelites lost their land and they had to learn the languages of the people who lived in Assyria and Babylon. Many many years later, one of the Kings named Cyrus let the Israelites go back to their land. We read about this in the book Ezra in the Bible. Most of the people did not speak Hebrew anymore, they spoke a language called Aramaic. Then later on the King of Greece, Alexander the Great, sent his armies to many countries. They came to Israel and conquered the Israelites and became rulers over them. Most of the Israelites had to learn the Greek language. Greek was a very important language at that time and many people in lots of different countries could speak Greek. By the time Jesus came to earth, the Romans were the rulers in Israel, but Greek was still the international language, like English is today. So when men wrote the New Testament, they wrote it in the Greek language. Look at how Greek is written below. This is Mark 4:37-39 in Greek. 2 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TRANSLATE THE BIBLE? In the Bible we read that God's word is very important. In Psalm 119, verse 105, we read that it is like a lamp to guide us, and a light for our path. If we walk around without a lamp when it is really dark, we might lose our way or stumble or fall down. It is the same with our lives. But God's word is like a very bright light. It shows us what God is like and how we should live. Also, in 1 Peter 1:24-25a, we read: All people are like the grass. And all their strength is like the flowers of the field. The grass dies and the flowers fall. But the word of the Lord will live forever. Also in 2 Timothy 3:15-17, we read: The Scriptures are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be ready and will have everything he needs to do every good work. The Israelite people and the people who lived after Jesus came heard God's word in their own languages. We must translate the Bible so that people today can hear God speaking to them in their own language. Then they will have the opportunity to really understand God's word and think about it for themselves. They will know what God says about being in His family. In Revelation 7:9-10 it says that in heaven we will hear people praising God in every language: Then I looked, and there was a great number of people.