Bible translation is not just about translating word for word

In July, our fifth A level language student of 2016 enjoyed work experience with Wycliffe Bible Translators UK & Ireland. Tarah, from Newtownards, spent a day in the Belfast office and two days with Marlene Ferguson at Summer Madness. Here are some of her reflections…

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived at the Wycliffe office for work experience. I had heard about the Bible translation work they do and, as I love languages, I found it fascinating. When I got there, I enjoyed learning about the process of Bible translation from locating the need for translation right up to actually producing a New Testament or Bible in a previously unwritten language.

Initially I wondered and was quite troubled by how Wycliffe choose which community they help with Bible translation as there are so many without it. I learnt that firstly God is in control. This seems obvious but when you are caught up in the whole experience it is easy to forget. Secondly, I learnt that usually someone in the community asks for a Bible and this is how Wycliffe gets involved.

Translation puzzle

Another thing I learnt from my day in the office was that Bible translation is not just about translating word for word, but about understanding the culture of the community. Translation has to be accurate, natural and relate to the culture.

Something that struck me about my experience in the office was that when working there all your colleagues are Christian. I found this interesting as this could only really happen within a missionary organisation and I imagine it has its benefits and problems.

As well as visiting the office I got the opportunity to help out at Summer Madness for two days! I was in the Pamper Zone where I painted a lot of nails and braided a lot of hair! While I was doing this I had the chance to chat to the girls who came in and find out a little about their background.

The Pamper Zone at Summer Madness

Wycliffe shared this tent with other missionary organisations within MAP like Mission Africa and WEC. This allowed me to see another side to Wycliffe – promoting the mission work around Northern Ireland to let people know what the organisation does and how to get involved, as the missionaries need prayer and support from home. Summer Madness caters for roughly ages 12-18 and around this age they may be starting to think about mission opportunities after school, myself included! In the tent there was lots of information on the organisations and what they offered both short and long term. It was about planting a seed in their minds and letting them know about the opportunities out there.

This experience also helped me as I have been thinking about mission in the future and it has made me surer that it is something I want to do as I can see through Wycliffe that it does affect lives for the better and being able to understand the truths of the Bible is life changing. We have all been called to be missionaries wherever we are “go and make disciples of all nations” Matthew 28:19.

I’d like to thank Wycliffe for giving me the opportunity to have work experience with them; I enjoyed it and learnt lots!

My thanks to Tarah for this guest blog about her work experience with us.

There are still at least 1,800 languages that don’t have a Bible.

Find out more about Bible translation and mission and the ways that you could become involved on our website.