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Bible Translation Consultation

A consultation on Bible translation for sign languages was held in April 2007 at the Wycliffe Centre in England. The consultation focused on sign languages in Europe and West Asia. There are an estimated 70 sign languages used by the Deaf in these countries, though more survey still needs to be done to determine the exact number of languages. Only about 20 of them have some translated Scripture, and none has adequate Scripture. One Deaf participant spoke from his own experience: “Many Deaf don’t read well and can’t take in the Word through a second language. Deaf people need the Bible in their own sign languages.”

Nearly 40 people attended the consultation, representing several agencies interested in making the Bible available to the Deaf in their mother tongues. Members of teams already involved in Bible translation included Deaf translators, exegetical advisors, translation consultants, and project managers. The consultation took place simultaneously in three languages: English, American Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language. Partnership was a strong focus. Already there is cooperation on various projects between SIL, Deaf Opportunity Outreach (DOOR), IMB, and the United Bible Societies, and there is the hope that this cooperation will increase in the future.

One Deaf participant gave his personal testimony. He grew up deaf in a hearing family. He attended a hearing church with his parents, but he simply sat and watched what was going on, because he couldn’t understand anything that was happening. Once he remembered seeing someone weeping at the scene of Christ on the cross. He realized there was some deep emotion involved in that experience, but he didn’t understand what it was about. The written Word did not communicate to him. When he got older, he began to attend a Deaf school and learned more sign language. Gradually he came to understand the story of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection, and he became a believer. But it was only as he fellowshipped with a Deaf church through the medium of sign language that he grew in his Christian life. Now he is a leader who teaches and encourages other Deaf in their faith and is eager to see the Bible translated in more sign languages.

There was a great deal of enthusiasm shown for the method of Chronological Bible Storying. Information is routinely passed around Deaf communities through stories, and many Deaf people are master story tellers. So the narrative portions of Scripture are a natural place to begin translation. At least two agencies have developed sets of Bible stories designed to bring people to a good understanding of the whole scope of Biblical teaching – creation, sin, salvation through Christ, discipleship, and the founding of the Church. As these sets of Bible passages are translated into different sign languages, Deaf communities are gaining access to the foundational teaching of Scripture.

One team told of plans to release the Christmas story (texts from Matthew and Luke’s gospels) translated into one of the sign languages of Europe later this year. The text will appear as an animated film, with an “avatar” signing the story. In order to help the Deaf understand the Biblical context and background to the story, the film will be distributed on an interactive DVD containing an introduction to the Bible, a map, a dictionary of names and key terms, and a summary of the translation process.

Some participants at the consultation were seasoned translators and consultants who have worked with translation projects in spoken languages. Questions were asked: In what ways are translations into sign languages different from those in spoken languages? Do the same translation principles apply? What special orientation do translation consultants need to have to work effectively with Deaf translation teams? Discussion of these questions was lively. Some answers were suggested, but generally the participants agreed that much more research needs to be done. As solutions are shared from team to team and in consultations like this one, the body of knowledge and effective practice will grow, enabling teams to be more effective.

Technical solutions were shared between the participants at the consultation. One software package allows text to be inputted via video, then glossed to produce a back translation or annotated to record translation consultant feedback. Another project is underway to produce computer software that will act like a word processor for sign languages. Rather than letters representing phonetic sounds, the hand shapes and movements of the signs will be the “spelling”. The goal is to be able to enter sign language text in one format, store it in archives, and produce output in a range of other formats, which could include a written form (such as SignWriter), animation, or glosses in a language of wider communication.

During the consultation, several teams shared in detail the process they use in translating Scripture. This was helpful and gave other teams ideas for how to improve their own approach. Teams were particularly eager to find ways for Deaf translators to be trained to carry out all aspects of translation projects themselves. A Deaf member of one translation team said, “As we work on translation, the text becomes clear and touches my heart. Then when I preach, I can go deeper, because I understand what it means.”

Source:  'Consultation on Bible Translation for Sign Languages'