Ronald Sim [PhD Edinburgh] is an International Translation Consultant with SIL. He was exegete-advisor for Hadiyya and Kambaata translation projects in Ethiopia. Since 1990 he has established formal training programmes for Bible translation in Nairobi, in association with existing theological institutions, at BA, MA and PhD levels.
From 2008 he has been principally involved in (a) translation consulting; (b) supervising, mentoring, and examining students; and (c) research, writing, and presentations at academic conferences in biblical studies and translation. Special interests are: the interaction of text and context; on-the-ground exposure to Israel and eastern Mediterranean city sites.
Book Introductions for Old Testament Discussion Session
Abstract
An increasing number of first-time Old Testaments are being published [full Bibles]. Most of these include short book-by-book Introductions. The terse Introductions available in international versions are often translated into each language/project.
The session will centre around sharing with the audience some ‘model introductions’, with the hope of stimulating feedback and simultaneously generating further interest in the need for a serious update on what translators, consultants, and publishers want Introductions to provide. Draft Introductions on several books – such as Leviticus, Judges, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah – will demonstrate what might be provided by updating these Readers’ Helps. Each will be in two parts: informative bullet points and a prose model for each. No single ‘model’ will satisfy every situation, or all of its personnel, but to set out models in this way may give different translation projects a range of ideas which they can draw upon to suit their own circumstances.
The session will not critique existing Introductions, nor discuss the value and role of OT book introductions, although an Appendix will address the latter briefly. One possible outcome might be to form a virtual group to develop the idea further.