Literacy & Translation
Linguistics
Linguistics is a process we use to analyze a language and create a useable alphabet. It is essential for learning an unlearned language and finishing the task of a Bible translation. This is a role that someone on the team must fill. They need to discover and communicate the morphology and syntax rules for the language. There is a tremendous amount of data that must be gathered and analyzed to learn the language. As a team, we must also develop a phonemic alphabet. The people we are going to do not know how to read and write and so we must create an alphabet that is natural and easy to learn and read. When translating the Bible we must do so in a way that is understandable and easy to read. Linguistics is essential to understanding the grammar and being able to speak and write the language accurately.
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Literacy
Our goal is to have a holistic approach to literacy. We desire the people group to have the ability to read the Bible in their heart language. We will, create an alphabet and teach them to read and write in their heart language. Those that show a giftedness with literacy and willingness to serve others will be discipled in the ability to teach others how to read and write. We want them to be able to teach literacy without our help so it will carry on after we have phased out of the church plant. The purpose of literacy is give people the ability to read, learn, and teach from the Word of God. It is important people learn to read prior to teaching and Bible translation. The people should be able to understand fully the Word of God as we teach it. It should not be our word against theirs, but God’s Word.
Bible Translation
Our goal is to translate the Word of God into the tribal language in order for the believers to read, understand and use the Word of God. We desire to present a clear, accurate, understandable, and enjoyable-to-read translation for the people we have lived amongst. The translation must keep up with the teaching as we desire to have each section printed in the lessons for the people to use as we teach. As new portions of scripture or book are finished, they will be printed and made available for people to read. The translated Word of God will be used as an authority over anything we teach, say, or do. Our goal is to see all of the scripture translated into the tribal language, taught and printed so that the people group can have the Word of God written down as that is what withstands the test of time. This is a lengthy, tedious and awesome process that can often last a decade.