All Languages Have Something to Give
By Jost Zetzsche

All Languages Have Something to Give

By Jost ZetzschePathways to approach reading the biblical text are endless. For English Bible readers, a couple of clicks opens access to dozens of English translations on Bible Gateway or BibleHub. If we use specialized tools like Logos or others, we might see even more. In fact, there are an estimated 900 different translations into English—much, much more than any other language in the world.

Even so, about half of all other languages, approximately 3,500, have at least part of the Bible translated. The widely varied linguistic and cultural features of each of these languages illuminate unique perspectives on the biblical text, uncovering a treasure trove that reflects the various facets of light of scripture. This view through the prism of hundreds of other languages may reveal rich details that even a person with a full handle of the original text might miss.

A short video illustrating the power of Translation Insights & Perspectives (TIPs)

This is what underlies the United Bible Societies’ Translation Insights & Perspectives (TIPs) tool, a large and ongoing collection of Bible translation data from around the world that’s freely available to both the Church and the Bible translation community. Though it is still a relatively new tool, more than 870 languages are already cooperating to unlock the multilingual prism of the Bible, covering every single verse of scripture.

Here are just a few examples to demonstrate that this prism metaphor is not just hyperbole.

The relationship between language and that which it denotes is not one-to-one. If it were, the church in the English-speaking world would have had a much harder time with the linguistic change from "Holy Ghost" to "Holy Spirit" over the past 150 years. Though no one is suggesting that we make a further shift to Tyi’i Ndiose (“God’s perfect heart”) or Ma’heonemȧhta’sooma (“Sacred Shadow”)—terms used in the Western Highland Chatino and Cheyenne Bibles, respectively, for “Holy Spirit”—these vivid translations allow us to see facets of the Spirit that we may have otherwise overlooked. (Here you can find these and many other translations of the “Holy Spirit.”)A screenshot displaying one of the more profound features of the tool, the section on key terms. For instance, in the example above, users can look at (back-) translations of the term righteousness.Another example highlights the confines that naturally restrict readers of English, Greek, or Hebrew. Many other languages force translators to research and make a linguistic distinction between the ages of siblings when using the basic terms of "brother" and "sister." Translators in those languages must determine the likely relative age of siblings by looking at contextual information to determine, for instance, whether Mary is older or younger than Martha and how Lazarus’ age relates to both sisters. This is one example among many in the TIPs tool where speakers of languages without a specific linguistic feature benefit from the insights that translators of other languages have been forced to research. (See here for how this was solved by the translators.)

There are numerous other examples—presently, well above 40,000, in fact—many of which can enhance our understanding of scripture.

The TIPs tool also includes multimedia insights, such as photos and videos from language groups around the world. In this clip, musicians retell the story of Jesus calming the sea, performing in the Shor language with traditional throat singing. (Video provided by Bronwen Cleaver.)

A project like this also achieves several other goals.

• It elevates every language to the same level of relevance. Why is that important? Or better: Why does that even have to be pointed out? Hundreds of languages are fighting for survival because their young speakers—or non-speakers, as it were—see their native language as less relevant than the dominant language in their political and economic sphere. This database provides them with a tool to mine the depth and uniqueness of their own language and may motivate them to more curiosity about the language of their ancestors. For example, speakers of Avaric may realize that uncovering a roof (to let someone into a house) as found in an encounter with Jesus is a completely familiar concept with a readily available term in their language, unlike the vast majority of other languages where speakers might find the passage in Mark 2:4 a little bewildering. That’s something a young Avaric speaker can connect to and be proud of.

• It gives every user a powerful illustration of the amazing diversity of languages and makes an incredibly strong case for the preservation of indigenous languages. There are plenty of other reasons to protect endangered languages, such as access to biodiversity or justice, but if I can personally benefit today from a perspective that would not have been available without that language, I’m impacted on a more personal and immediate level.

Data is being added to the TIPs tool continuously and will be for many years to come. The work of Bible translation is ongoing, new languages are being added constantly, and new Bibles for already-translated languages continue to be published. As translators grapple with each new translation, their innovative stories will continue to add fresh facets to this scriptural prism.

You’re invited to explore and marvel at tips.translation.bible.Jost Zetzsche, PhD, is the curator of Translation Insights & Perspectives, a program of the United Bible Societies. You can contact him at jzetzsche@biblesocieties.org.

Email Margaret Doll if you would like to attend.
Envoyez un courriel à Margaret Doll si vous souhaitez participer.

French Reviewer Needed / Besoin d'un réviseur en français

The IMN is in need of someone fluent in French and English, to review the translations of the IMN from English into French. If you or someone you know might be interested, please let us know at ims_imn@sil.org. 

L'IMN a besoin d'une personne parlant couramment le français et l'anglais pour réviser les traductions de l'IMN de l'anglais vers le français. Si vous ou quelqu'un que vous connaissez est intéressé, veuillez nous le faire savoir à l'adresse suivante : ims_imn@sil.org.