Have you ever wondered what it takes to write down a language for the first time? In this episode, we interview Mike Cahill, the Orthography Services Coordinator for SIL. He helps us walk through the factors that need to be considered when creating a writing system, or orthography, for a language. When an orthography is usable and acceptable, it goes a long way in making a Bible translation usable and acceptable as well!

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This month's episode covers Oral Bible Translation, the method of translation that maintains an oral format in order to put the Bible out in an audio format. This is different than oral story-telling! In our discussion with Kris Toler, we talk about the advantages this method brings, including a more natural-sounding translation, as well as some of the aspects that are still being studied. We hope that this will continue to broaden your understanding of what Bible translation can look like in different contexts.

Show Links:

Overview of the Oral Translation Process
Kris Toler's Thesis on Oral Bible Translation
Questions to ask when considering Oral Bible Translation
An example of how an audio presentation can convey more than written - throat singing in Mongolia

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In this episode, we're talking with Jed Carter, a language surveyist working in Papua New Guinea. He shares with us that, although the work of language survey is necessarily research-oriented, it also must be very relational in order to be successful.

Thanks for joining us for a new season of the Bible Translation Podcast!

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People all over the world are moving away from their language communities to find safety or simply for more opportunities. This diaspora is allowing access to languages that would otherwise be unreachable by outsiders. In this episode we are talking with Trevor Deck and Sunny Hong about how we can engage this diaspora communities to help with Bible translation and to train them as missionaries to their own people. This is one way that we can take advantage of strategic opportunities that are available for successful Bible translation projects around the world.

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In this episode, we talk with Aaron Wade, a linguist working in Papua New Guinea. He helps us understand why having a good linguistic base for a language is critical for Bible translation. This includes creating a good orthography (writing system), understanding their culture from an insider's point of view, and building relationships with them that help give a good Bible translation footing to work from. Aaron dives into the general principles of linguistics as well as sharing some of those things that he has learned from the language he works with in PNG.

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John Chesnut is the President and CEO of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA. He joins us for the special episode, where we sit down with him to discuss the ways that Wycliffe partners with organizations all over the world of all shapes and sizes to help Bible translation impact more people. He is such a great guy and so passionate about working together with others to make sure we're doing the best job at getting the Bible to those who don't yet have Scripture in their language. Enjoy this interview with John Chesnut!

Here's some more information about the Wycliffe Global Alliance and what it takes to be a part of it.

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The goal of Bible translation is that every person will have access to Scripture in a way that they can use it. This final episode of the season focuses in on how we can ensure that translations get used once they are completed. And though this is the last episode in this series, the task of Scripture Engagement starts back at the very beginning of the translation process. To find out more about Scripture Engagement, we interview Wayne Dye, the man who literally wrote the book on the topic. He walks us through the 8 conditions for Scripture Engagement that help translators think through how their translation will be used once it is finished. He also reminds us that, ultimately, it is the work of the Holy Spirit that opens people's hearts to His Word!

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Any Bible that gets published in any language undergoes a rigorous process of checking to make sure that there is consistency and cohesion throughout the final product. Translation projects in minority language communities are no exception. In Episode 6, we talk with Beth Knapp and Brian Parker, both working in the CAR, to discuss the nitty-gritty details that need to be done in order to make sure that the New Testament is ready to be published and that it will be used once it is completed.

View an example of the illustrations that they use here!

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Most of process has been defined by putting more and more authority and decision-making power in the hands of locals. And this is necessary. So what, then, is the role of the expat translator in the process of Bible translation? In the second part of our conversation with Adam Huntley, a Translation Consultant in CAR, he lays out some of the expertise and training that he brings to the project. Episode 5 helps us see the final steps of checking that he is involved with to make sure that the translation is natural, clear, and accurate before it is sent off to publication.

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The first steps of actually writing a translation are heavily reliant upon and owned by the native speakers of the language community we are working in. This episode navigates a series of drafts and checks that take place to ensure that the translation we produce is natural and clear in that language. This takes work from the translation team itself with the help of many people from the community. Adam Huntley, a translation consultant in CAR, helps us understand exactly what this looks like and what the end goal is of this part of the process. This is the first part of our conversation. In the next episode, we will talk more about what Adam's hands-on role looks like in this process. 

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