Description
This interdisciplinary collection of articles, written by scholars involved in translating the Bible into various languages around the world, demonstrates that such translation projects are promoting the vitality of local languages, both those that are endangered and those that are still fairly healthy but non-empowered. Bible translation and activities typically associated with it, such as linguistic documentation, vernacular literacy work, cultural engagement, community development, technological advancement, and self-esteem building among native speakers, help languages to develop and strengthen their position in society and should therefore be welcomed by linguists and all who care about stemming the growing tide of language death all over the world. This book is immediately relevant to the global community of documentary and conservationist linguists, as well as to anyone interested in translation studies, the sociology of religion, and the relationship between language, culture, and the Bible.
About the Author
Marianne Beerle-Moor received her doctorate in linguistics from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Her primary sphere of research is the languages of the Caucasus, especially Lezgi. Among other honors, she has been recognized by the president of Kalmykia and the president of Sakha (Yakutia) for her contribution to language development in these regions of the Russian Federation. Beerle-Moor has also been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Russian Academy of Sciences for her work as director of the Institute for Bible Translation from 1997 to 2013.
Vitaly Voinov received his PhD in linguistics from the University of Texas at Arlington, United States. He is one of the main editors of the first-ever translation of the Bible into the Tuvan language of Siberia and the author of Politeness Devices in the Tuvan Language. Voinov currently serves as director of the Institute for Bible Translation in Moscow, Russia.
Reviews
"Bible translators were doing crowd-sourced translation and language revitalization long before these concepts existed. They have made major contributions to the introduction of orthographies, literacies, and texts into languages that were often otherwise exclusively oral. And they continue to make an outstanding contribution to language vitality, as the chapters in this volume amply attest. 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, Linguistics Department, and Coordinator, Cognitive Science Program, Swarthmore College; Director of Research, 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. The volume is a needed corrective to any simple notion of Bible translation among minority groups around the world, not only concerning who is driving the efforts, but also about the relation of translation work to cultural practices and community development. The contributing authors have all had direct involvement in Scripture translation projects. As a result, readers are given an insider perspective on important questions that commonly arise about Bible translation activities, such as: What, if any, is the role of missionaries in promoting language vitality? Doesn't the Christian tradition degrade the value of linguistic diversity? Does the historical role of Christianity in colonizing and assimilatory activities destabilize the ethics of Bible translation work today? Does the introduction of literacy into communities via Bible translation undermine language vitality in any way?"
(Lindsay J. Whaley, Professor of Linguistics, Dartmouth College)
Book Information
ISBN 9781433128929
Author Marianne Beerle-Moor
Format Hardback
Page Count 248
Imprint Peter Lang Publishing Inc
Publisher Peter Lang Publishing Inc
Weight(grams) 470g
About the Author
Marianne Beerle-Moor received her doctorate in linguistics from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Her primary sphere of research is the languages of the Caucasus, especially Lezgi. Among other honors, she has been recognized by the president of Kalmykia and the president of Sakha (Yakutia) for her contribution to language development in these regions of the Russian Federation. Beerle-Moor has also been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Russian Academy of Sciences for her work as director of the Institute for Bible Translation from 1997 to 2013.
Vitaly Voinov received his PhD in linguistics from the University of Texas at Arlington, United States. He is one of the main editors of the first-ever translation of the Bible into the Tuvan language of Siberia and the author of Politeness Devices in the Tuvan Language. Voinov currently serves as director of the Institute for Bible Translation in Moscow, Russia.
Reviews
"Bible translators were doing crowd-sourced translation and language revitalization long before these concepts existed. They have made major contributions to the introduction of orthographies, literacies, and texts into languages that were often otherwise exclusively oral. And they continue to make an outstanding contribution to language vitality, as the chapters in this volume amply attest. 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, Linguistics Department, and Coordinator, Cognitive Science Program, Swarthmore College; Director of Research, 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. The volume is a needed corrective to any simple notion of Bible translation among minority groups around the world, not only concerning who is driving the efforts, but also about the relation of translation work to cultural practices and community development. The contributing authors have all had direct involvement in Scripture translation projects. As a result, readers are given an insider perspective on important questions that commonly arise about Bible translation activities, such as: What, if any, is the role of missionaries in promoting language vitality? Doesn't the Christian tradition degrade the value of linguistic diversity? Does the historical role of Christianity in colonizing and assimilatory activities destabilize the ethics of Bible translation work today? Does the introduction of literacy into communities via Bible translation undermine language vitality in any way?"
(Lindsay J. Whaley, Professor of Linguistics, Dartmouth College)
Book Information
ISBN 9781433128929
Author Marianne Beerle-Moor
Format Hardback
Page Count 248
Imprint Peter Lang Publishing Inc
Publisher Peter Lang Publishing Inc
Weight(grams) 470g
