New book explores the impact of Bible translation on language vitality
(August 2015) Recent research has shown that an alarming number of the world’s languages are in danger of disappearing within the next century. However, this drastic narrowing of linguistic diversity is not inevitable. Alongside the growing awareness of language endangerment is a new emphasis on language vitality and new efforts to provide communities with the knowledge and skills to keep their language in active use and pass on that heritage intact to the next generation.
As communities take ownership of language development, producing original literature is one activity that can increase language use. But what about translations from other languages? A new resource, Language Vitality Through Bible Translation, examines the impact of Scripture translation projects in a variety of contexts.
Several of the studies included in the book were authored by SIL linguists:
- Dr. Brenda H. Boerger: Bible translation as Natqgu language and culture advocacy
- Dr. Michael Cahill: Endangered languages and Bible translation in Brazil and Papua New Guinea
- Dr. J. Stephen Quakenbush: Bible translation’s contribution to Agutaynen language vitality
Language Vitality Through Bible Translation, edited by Dr. Marianne Beerle-Moor and Dr. Vitaly Voinov and published by Peter Lang International Academic Publishers, is number 95 in the Berkeley Insights in Linguistics and Semiotics series. The book can be purchased directly from the publisher or through Amazon.
Bible translation can be transformative for a language, especially during the life of the project itself, when it engages some of the best minds of the community in solving formidably difficult problems in semantic mapping, orthography, metaphor, and language standardization. It may extend in influence far beyond the original project and shine as an example of best practice in ensuring language survival.
—K. David Harrison, Associate Professor of Linguistics and Coordinator of the Cognitive Science Program at Swarthmore College, Director of Research for Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages
Language Vitality Through Bible Translation provides valuable case studies from around the world about the complex interplay of language documentation, literacy, religion, colonial inheritance, anti-imperial impulses and indigenous language use.
—Lindsay J. Whaley, Professor of Linguistics at Dartmouth College
Related links:
- Language Vitality Through Bible Translation
- Learn more about endangered languages and the communities that speak them
- Resources about language vitality and language endangerment in the SIL Language & Culture Archives
- Language development in SIL
- Ethnologue: Languages of the World
- News article: "Language documentation specialist receives second DEL fellowship"
- News article: "Community celebrates print and online publication of the Agutaynen-English Dictionary"
- News article: "New resource: Developing orthographies for unwritten languages"