In a multi-language translation program, a strong emphasis is placed on training nationals to do the work of translation. The expatriate Bible translator serves as trainer, encourager, and provides exegetical expertise to assure the accuracy of the finished translation. We anticipate using a two-phase approach to the translation task.

Phase One - Training

Training will take place in a series of three-week workshops held in each of the Lower Ramu language groups. Each participating language group will select 4-6 men and women to work as translators. At the workshops these translators will learn translation principles and gain experience in translating various genres. The first translation workshop was held in June 2003 with participants from the Bosmun, Sepen (Akuhum) and Abu language groups in attendance.

This first workshop covered the Old Testament book of Jonah. Jonah was chosen because it is a short fairly simple narrative. There are few difficult concepts or special terms. This allowed us to focus on general translation principles and gave the participants a positive experience in their first translation attempts. As soon as we return to PNG after furlough, we will run the Jonah workshops for the Awar, Kayan, and Marangis language groups. Subsequent workshops will cover Ruth, the Christmas story, the Easter story, and the gospel of Mark. Mark will be broken down into four different workshops.

Phase Two - Computer Aided Production

After the eight introductory workshops have been completed, we will be ready to move into phase two of the program. At this point, rather than working on the same passages or sections of scripture, each translation team will be assigned a different book of the New Testament. We will assist each team as they work through their book and will carefully check it to assure accuracy.

Once a book is completed and checked in a particular language, we will be able to use a computer program called CARLA (Computer Aided Related Language Adaptation) to quickly produce translations in the other Ottilien languages. We have discovered that these languages are closely related so the CARLA program should be able to produce translations that will require little revision.

With each translation team working on different books and using CARLA to translate their work into the other languages, the translation process will be significantly speeded up. If all goes well we could see finished translations in all these languages in a fraction of the time that it takes to produce a translation in a more traditional single-language program.