Technical Papers
As we go about the task of making the Word of God accessible to those who do not yet have it in their heart language, we necessarily engage in discussions in a number of robust topics. In this section, we have included the contributions that LBT missionaries and its national partners are making in these discussions of Bible translation, Scripture engagement, missiology, linguistic research and documentation, and cross-cultural issues. Our hope is that in sharing, we would encourage others who are involved in the work of Bible translation, provide resources for research, and sharpen our thinking as we serve.
October 2011 Esala, Nathan Komba Translation Brief
"The Translation Brief for the Likɔɔnl (Komba) New Testament."
The Likɔɔnl New Testament Translation Brief utilizes a theory from the field of Translation Studies called skopos theory developed by Hans Vermeer and further by Christianne Nord.[1]
The basic idea of skopos theory is that any translation is performing a communicative action. Translation must take into account what the source text was trying to accomplish communicatively and what the initiators of the new translated text are trying to accomplish by translating.
Many of those reading this website will be concerned about sharing the message of the Bible without compromising its original message. Others reading here, may be concerned about the ethics of translating a Christian message for a people most of whom are followers of African Traditional Religion. Nord has attempted to mitigate this concern by claiming that a translator has an ethical responsibility to be 'bi-directionally loyal' to the source communicators and the host audience.[2]
But how? What principles does a translation use when it tries to bridge the gap between the ancient communicators and modern communicators? Different choices are possible! The linguistic, ideological, cultural, communicative, organizational, ethical and theological principles for the Likɔɔnl (Komba) New Testament translation are offered as transparently as possible in this translation brief.
Critiques are welcome.
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[1] Christianne Nord, Translating as Purposeful Activity: Functionalist Approaches Explained, (Manchester: St. Jerome, 1997).
[2] Nord, Translating, 123-125.
April 2008 LBT e-Journal Vol 3.2
In this issue: Liberian English: A “Real” Language?; Context and Referential Singular/Plural;
Concords in Kalanga Translated Text; Book Review.
January 2008 LBT e-Journal Vol 3.1
In this issue: Missions, Money and Church-Mission Relations; Projects and Power Relations; Book Review.
October 2007 LBT e-Journal Vol 2.1
In this issue: New Testament and African Orality; Contextualization - A Confessional Lutheran Look at Method and Mission; Partnership: Relationship or Paper; Book Review.
December 2006 LBT e-Journal Vol 2.1x
In this issue: New Testament and African Orality; The Missionary Nature of God and His Word; Partnership: Relationship or Paper; Book Review.
September 2006 LBT e-Journal Vol 1.1
In this issue: Insights on Bantu Word Division; LBT Paradigm Shift; Book Review.
