Wycliffe Bible Translators Information
Wycliffe Bible Translators is an interdenominational organization mandated to making a translation of the Bible in every living language in the world, especially for cultures with little existing Christian influence. Wycliffe was founded in 1942 by William Cameron Townsend and is associated with the Protestant section of Christianity. There are currently branches in over 50 countries.[1] The organization is named after John Wycliffe, who was responsible for the first complete English translation of the whole Bible into Middle English.[2]
As of September 2010[update], they have translations of either portions of the Bible, just the New Testament, or the whole Bible in over 2,500 of the 6,860 languages used on Earth.[3]
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Philosophy and methods
Wycliffe bases its philosophy on Townsend's Protestantism which regards the intercultural and multilinguistic spread of Christianity as a divine command.[4] Protestantism, including this organization, adheres to the principle of sola scriptura and regards Biblical texts as the authoritative and infallible word of God.[5]
In a Wycliffe mission, Wycliffe senior workers first request permission from the government in charge of a region. After the organization receives permission to operate, several small teams research a region's linguistic populations. Based on this data, teams are sent to each linguistic group.[citation needed]
The team introduces itself to a group, usually with the aid of bilingual helpers. The team lives on site, and attempts to speak the language. Formal recordings, word lists and grammars are kept, usually on computers, backed up periodically to the national mission.
When the phonology is understood, the team develops a scientific writing system similar to those in use by related, regional, or national languages, or according to standards set by the government. At some point, the team begins to translate short portions of the Bible into the native language. The translation is tested and corrected with native speakers, as well as the existing lexicographies and grammars. Once the Bible is translated, printings are arranged, often through one of the United Bible Societies. The length of the entire process varies depending on the portion of the Bible being translated; it can take longer than twenty years.[citation needed]
Associated Organizations
SIL International, originally the Summer Institute of Linguistics, began as a small summer training session for missionaries in Arkansas in 1934. It is an affiliate organization of Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Another partner organization, JAARS, originally the Jungle Aviation And Radio Service, provides transportation and technical services for missionaries and associated development workers.
The Seed Company is a subsidiary of Wycliffe USA that provides support to local translators.
Wycliffe Associates is a volunteer organization that exists to support Wycliffe Bible Translators. Wycliffe Associates' relationship to the main Wycliffe organization varies in the different countries in which it operates. Wycliffe Associates USA and Wycliffe Associates UK are separate organizations to Wycliffe USA in Orlando, Florida and Wycliffe UK in High Wycombe.
See also Wycliffe International, with current headquarters in Singapore.
Criticism
Wycliffe Bible Translators has come under criticism from American ethnologist William T. Vickers, who states:
The conspiracy theorists who believe that [Wycliffe] is a simple front for the CIA will find little support for their views [...] It is true, however, that [Wycliffe] has influential ties to capitalist enterprise, politicians, and military figures in the United States and in the developing countries in which it works. [Wycliffe] is not an "empire" per se, but foreign missions such as [Wycliffe] are part of the larger political process in which powerful nations export political, economic, social, and ideological patterns to the relatively weaker and poorer regions of the world. Today, people in many developing countries are debating whether some aspects of this process should be limited or controlled. (Vickers, 1984:201)
Wycliffe itself emphasises its international nature. It describes itself as "multicultural, multinational, creative and facilitative" and states that "Wycliffe International’s headquarters is in Singapore. The Global Leadership Team is a virtual team and is spread across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and Central America."[6]
Wycliffe International's headquarters is in Singapore, but Wycliffe USA's headquarters is in Orlando, Florida.
See also
References
| This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009) |
Notes
- ^ Wycliffe website
- ^ http://www.oxfordreference.com/pub/views/fact-of-the-day.html?date=2010-01-20
- ^ "2010 Scripture Access Statistics". Wycliffe International. http://www.wycliffe.net/ScriptureAccessStatistics/tabid/73/language/en-US/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
- ^ Wycliffe International doctrinal statement
- ^ Wycliffe International doctrinal statement
- ^ Wycliffe website - 'About Us'
General references
- Colby, Gerard with Dennett, Charlotte. (1995). "Thy Will Be Done. The Conquest of the Amazon: Nelson Rockefeller and Evangelism in the age of Oil" Harper Collins, New York, NY.
- Vickers, William. (1984). "Review: Fishers of Men or Founders of an Empire? The Wycliffe Bible Translators in Latin America by David Stoll." American Ethnologist, 11.1, 200-201.JSTOR
External links
Categories: Bible societies | Christian missions | Religious organizations established in 1942 | Christian organizations established in the 20th century
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