Translation Procedures Summary

The procedures below are only a summary.  You may email us to request a more complete outline

General Procedures

           Circumstances are never the same from one project to another.  These are general procedures, flexible, and able to change as the need dictates.  Principles are steadfast.  However, procedures can and should change if the circumstances demand as long as the goal of an accurate, clear, and complete translation is the result. 

Pre-translation Foundation

             Several things are needed before a translation can be started.

There must be missionaries on the ground among the target people and engaged in church planting efforts.  The missionaries and translators must have a thorough knowledge of the language and culture of the target people. The missionaries must be willing to become translators themselves, to work with full-time translators who relocate to their field, or to supervise native speakers of the target language.  If there is no written form of the target language, it will have to be developed and literacy classes will have to taught among the target people. 

The Preparation Stage

The proper groundwork must be laid.  The field team must be selected.  This will include translators, native translation assistants, and a field supervisor. A home team will also assist.  The home team will include translation consultants and theological consultants. Costs must be estimated so that churches can be informed and fund raising efforts can begin.

The First Stage Draft

The next step is to plan the order of the books to be translated.  Then the translation can begin with a first draft.  The draft is checked with a translation consultant and by other missionaries in the area.  The translation is also checked with several native groups or individuals.  A back translation into English is made and checked against the Greek or Hebrew text and the KJB by the translation consultant.  The checks are done when the book is finished for short books.  For longer books, the checks can be done every few chapters.

The Second Stage Draft

After the checking of the first draft is complete, it is revised according to the findings and advice received.  The second draft is thoroughly proof read.  Once again a back translation is done and sent to the home committee for review by all.  The draft is discussed by the entire committee and recommendations are made to the field translation supervisor.  The translation is further tested with native speakers of the language.   Copies should be sent to several churches for real-world testing.  Revise the translation again if needed.

Preparation for Publication Stage

The translation should be checked for consistency of details, such as, section breaks, headings, spelling, chapter and verse numbers, layout, and format.  A final accuracy check is done.  Finally, the translation is typeset, published, and distributed.

This is only the translation work.  The real foundation and enabling comes through prayer and the power of God.  Prayer must be a continual activity throughout this process.