Tim served as linguistics coordinator for SIL Sudan and South Sudan for 12 years. Using participant methods, he helped translation teams apply grammar in consistent writing and natural translation. He has an MA in applied linguistics from GIAL/DIU in Dallas and a PhD in African linguistics from Leiden University in Holland.
The Missing Link in Modern Translation Projects--Linguistic Checks
Abstract
Scripture translations published with inconsistent writing are unclear and inaccurate. More than one spelling of the same word form causes slower word recognition and slower reading, making understanding more difficult, such as when Scripture is read to a church congregation. Some writing inconsistencies in Scripture unavoidably give the wrong meaning, such as two words with similar spelling that are confused in contexts where both meanings are equally possible.
Just because a well-chosen writing system has been accepted doesn’t guarantee it will be consistently followed. Often, translators forget the agreed-upon rules of writing, or need to be taught how to use them.
Linguistic checks are a growing movement within translation organizations to rectify this situation. As the basic equivalent of translation checks, they give on-going feedback to translators of how to correctly apply grammar in consistent spelling, word breaks, and other aspects of the agreed-upon writing system.
This paper includes a case study of how the writing of eight beginning translation teams in South Sudan drastically improved in a relatively short time through on-going linguistic checks. It discusses the benefits of linguistic checks, and gives best practice statements, including time requirements, for how to do linguistic checks in any modern translation project.