Temi language recording. (Tanzania)

Laying the Foundations for Bible Translation

Many of the 2,500 languages where translation is still needed do not yet have a written form. The majority have never been analysed or documented. In many cases language communities are keen to see their language developed, but lack training and encouragement.

Working alongside members of a language community, a linguistic team focuses on the application of linguistic research to the literacy and translation needs of the minority language community. Their aim includes:

• The formation of local language committees, who will guide and promote language development.
• Identifying gifted mother tongue speakers and training them to participate fully in the project.
• A thorough linguistic analysis of the sound system.
• A practical alphabet which is approved and accepted by the community.
• A detailed analysis of the grammatical system and language structure, which will help translators produce high quality translation.
• A language database, often leading to a more fully developed dictionary.

From Wycliffe UK

Wycliffe’s partner organization’s linguistic investigation exceeds 1,800 languages spoken by over 1.2 billion people in more than 70 countries.