A field member on the Mixtec team (LW) was recently interviewed by a high school student. LW gave us permission to share the questionnaire on the blog.
- How would you describe the work of a Bible Translator? What are the best parts, worst parts, joys, and struggles?
- I would describe the work of a Bible translator as a solemn responsibility. It is both intellectual and spiritual. It calls for creativity and perseverance. The long hours at the desk are perhaps more suited to introverts, but it often takes lots of relationship time (aka language learning) to become qualified for the job. For me personally, the best part of the job is reading the completed Scriptures with someone and seeing the impact it has on them. And the worst part? I don’t enjoy computers or monotonous work! One of the greatest joys for me is stumbling on a phrase or a word that we had been searching for for years and finally assumed didn’t exist. For example, years into translation, we finally discovered a word for “promise” in our language. Conversely, there are times when you can’t find a word that you need, or when you have to settle for a word that you feel doesn’t capture the fullness of meaning of the original text. This happens in Bible translation, but it always feels a little disappointing.
- What would you say is the hardest part of your job?
- For me personally, the immensity of the task is the hardest part of Bible translation. It is a long-term commitment, and at the end of the day I often feel like I made very little progress. It’s like moving a sand dune one grain at a time! I’m a person who gets fulfillment from actually completing a task, so I have to view it as a long-term ministry rather than a job I can check off the list.
- What courses/academic training did you take and what school(s) did you go to that you feel really contributed to your abilities now?
- Both my husband and I studied at the Summer Institute of Linguistics. We also studied biblical Greek, and we continue to supplement our education with relevant books and articles.
- Why are you passionate about your job?
- I am passionate about my job because I personally know hundreds of people who have never had a chance to hear the Truth in a language that they fully understand. I’m also passionate about it because I long for believers to be able to dig into God’s Word for themselves and not have to rely exclusively on others to teach them, since this can trap people in a false or distorted version of Christianity.
- What does a typical day-in-the-life look like for a Bible translator on mission?
- My husband’s day as a Bible translator looks different than mine. He spends a few hours working alone on the translation each day, as well as several hours working with a native speaker. He handles all of the logistics, tech-related stuff, etc. My day looks very much like any other home-school mom’s day, except for the hour that I spend working on translation. When we are in our village, the logistics of daily life in a primitive setting take up more of our time, and the day is more likely to be broken up with visitors or requests for help of some kind. But overall, our days tend to be fairly predictable.
- What is the role of a married woman in Bible translating, and what is the place for single women?
- My husband and I have always approached Bible translation as a team, and both of us would say we couldn’t do it without the other. In this current season of life as a mom of 4, I am only able to dedicate an hour a day to translation, but we know of other couples who split the work more or less equally, or the wife may even dedicate more time to it than the husband. Single women can also be a tremendous asset to Bible translation, as they likely will have more time and energy to dedicate to the task. They are capable of filling any role involved.
- What part(s) of your personality do you think benefits you most in your work?
- I’m not the stereotypical nerdy linguist who loves to sit at the desk, but I do tend to be a quick thinker, decisive, and able to assimilate information well. I also enjoy languages and tend to learn them fairly easily. I think these are helpful qualities.
- What is your view on the use of AI in Bible Translation?
- It has a lot of potential on various fronts, but at this point it is just a tool in the belt and cannot fill the role of a qualified person who has learned language and culture.