User-Centered Translation

Hello, Seppo, I am also interested in an approach that takes users seriously in determining how to do translation. Judging from the book's table of contents, it appears that the authors do not consider whether the users prefer listening rather than reading. Should user-centered translation also evaluate whether the users are more likely to use a translation prepared for the ear (audio recording) rather than for the eye (print)?

Yes., interesting topic. In terms of user centred translation, re. many African contexts, it's like one ought to begin where the people are, which is often engrossed in witchcraft issues. Then the question is; how is the bible the answer to witchcraft, if you like?

Thank you for your posting. I have a number of questions: 1. What is the difference of applying UCT in Bible Translation context or general context? or how the nature and ideology of the text affecting the implementation of UCT? 2. Who should be the center in Bible Translation context? For Bible Translation, should it be God Center Translation? How can we implement a God Center Translation? What are the current situations: NGO centered, Consultant centered, Foreign church and/or local church center, community of user center, translators self-center? 3. What does 'center' mean? I am suggesting new BT team started a translation profile, in which answering the questions, who are the owners of the translation, who is going to make the decision and evaluation and in what matters, how decisions/evaluation will be made, by whom and in what cost? 4. How can we define users? How can we ensure there is a market? How can the users evaluate and give more feedback? Can the users be collaborative translators? 5. How can we keep track the use of the translated material by users? Shall we make a distinction between potential users and users really using/reading/understanding the translation. And how can we measure the outcome or difference before and after translated materials being used? According to purpose-driven approach, translation is mediation between the text, the author and the readers/users. I fear that in reality for BT the mediator need to mediate amonge more stakeholders, e.g. NGO, churches, readers as a community, readers as individual, need mediation. BTW, I fear that it is very difficult to get a one for all solution. I am thinking along the line collaborating user community translation, with shorter cycles of revision and revised with feedback from users plus public. I wonder what can be the potential of collaborative open source bible translation.

Along with Grant Lovejoy above, I am also interested in pursuing how to go about an approach to translation that takes the users needs seriously. I'm curious as to how UCT would fit into my context, as I am working with a Muslim people group that would be considered "least reached". In other words, there is no existing Scripture engagement, nor is there any established community of believers. The existing translation for this people group also comes from a different country with some differences (I am about to conduct some surveying research in my area to determine the precise nature of these differences). Where I am curious is in how a Bible translation can be user-centred when the users don't necessarily want the Bible translated to begin with. I guess the notion of "Muslim friendly" Bible translation might come in to play. That all said, my current thinking is that the instigators of a project should learn as much as they can about the people (culturally, linguistically etc) and move forward from there. I also reckon a project could be planned in stages. That is, try to work out, through research and listening to people on their own terms, what texts speak to them (i.e. if witchcraft is an issue, then what texts speak to this?) and translate those first. Then, texts that are translated later could grow in their user-centredness.

I do see myself as a bit of a facilitator of a discourse, but I still draw the line at translating Scriptures myself. This isn't something I am advocating, even in my Islamic context. Although there are various levels of understanding here, the respect that Muslims (are supposed to) have for the Injil (Gospel) etc does provide some kind of basis for getting Muslims interested and involved in Bible translation - particularly if texts are chosen that integrate with their existing teaching. I'm not sure a Bible translation project can avoid "outside" involvement in my context. The reality is (here at least) that unless I or other outsiders instigate a translation (by instigate, I mean organising, assembling and training a translation team of indigenous translators), nothing will happen. However, the need to have (quoting Jim above) "a deep knowledge of where the people are and what they are at" is no less important. In fact, the whole 'skopos' (aim/goal) of the translation should have been formulated through deep understanding of, and discourse with, the people who are the users. Even if I were to take on a managerial-type role in a translation project, my responsibility would be partly to make sure the indigenous team are sticking to the translation brief that was formulated in discourse and agreed upon with one another in the beginning. I don't know really... I see myself as someone with a lot to learn. Just some thoughts.

Some of you may find some resources of Project Based learning resources and ideas can apply to training and translating and develop users with users' purpose(user centered) http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/projects/view/2014A/