BT Glossary
Drew Maust · Nov 25, 2025, 3:57 PM · Last modified: Sep 28, 2026, 11:39 AMThis Bible Translation (BT) Glossary defines abbreviations in the field of Bible translation, including organizations, initiatives, approaches, resources, and tools.
55 Table
Deaf leadership group within ETEN related to SLBT
ADSLA
Association for the Development of Sign Languages in the Americas (a Deaf-led association of sign language Bible Translation Projects in the Americas)
ADMA
African Deaf Ministry Alliance (a Deaf-led assocation of sign language Bible Translation projects in Africa)
AFOBT
Africa Oral Bible Translation Consultation
AIDIA
Asociación Interdenominacional para el Desarrollo Integral de Apurímac (Perú)
AQuA
APSDA
Asia Pacific Sign Language Development Association (a Deaf-led association of sign language Bible translation projects in Asia-Pacific)
ASL
American Sign Language
ATALTRAB
L’Association Tchadienne de L’alphabétisation, de la Linguistique, et de la Traduction de la Bible (Chad)
BART
Biblical Analysis & Research Tool
BiLTA
The Bible and Literature Translation Association (Zambia)
BT
Back translation
BT
Bible translation
BT4
Bible Translation: An Introductory Course in Translation Principles (4th ed) by Katharine Barnwell
BTC
CABTAL
Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy
CANA
Clear, accurate, natural, acceptable
CBC
Competency-based certification
CBT
Chronological Bible Translation
CBBT
Church-Based Bible Translation
CILTA
Curso Internacional de lingüística, Traducción y Alfabetización (Perú)
CIT
Consultant in Training
COP
Community of practice
DBL
DDG
Deaf Development Group in FOBAI
DIU
Dallas International University
DOOR
EDCBT
European Deaf Christian Bible Translation (a comparable Deaf-led association of Bible translation projects in Europe under the European Deaf Christian Alliance)
ELAN
a free audiovisual desktop tool for linguistic research
EMDC
ES
ETEN
FCBH
FIA
Familiarization, internalization, articulation
FOBAI
Forum of Bible Agencies International
GCP
Global Consultant Pool (SIL)
GNT
Greek New Testament
GP
Global Partners
GSLT
Global Sign Languages Team (under SIL Global)
ITS
See STS
JLCR
Journal of Language Culture and Religion (DIU)
JOT
KTOT
Key Terms of the Old Testament
LBT
LD
Language development
Le Coin
MAT
Multilingual Assessment Tool
MTT
Mother tongue translator
MUSE
Multilingualism, urbanisation and scripture engagement
NOT
OBT
OBT&T
Oral Bible Translation & Transcription
OT
Old Testament
OTT
Other tongue translator
PBT
PTX
SBL
Society of Biblical Literature
SC
Seed Company (sometimes TSCO**)**
SCO
SIL Community Organization
SF
SIL
SIL Global (formerly Summer Institute of Linguistics)
SL(s)
Sign Language(s)
SLBT
Sign Language Bible Translation
SLTT
Sign Language Translation Tool
SSA
Semantic and Structural Analysis
SRV
STS
SIL Translation Services (formerly ITS)
SURAM
Scripture Use Research and Ministry
TA
Translation advisor
TAUA
Trustworthy, appropriate, understandable, appealing
TBT
TC
Translation Consultant
TIPs
Translation Insights and Perspectives
TN
TRD
Translation Resources developed in a mix of International Sign / ASL
TSCO
TW
TWFTW
UBS
WA
Wycliffe Associates
WGA
WBT
Wycliffe Bible Translators
WWIn
Whole Word Institute
3 comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
I don't really understand this post. You're working on a BT glossary?
With others, I compiled an OT glossary some years ago. It's available on academia.edu under my profile: https://sil.academia.edu/DavidGray
Thanks, David. I've added a link to your glossary which seems to cover biblical concepts whereas the glossary above covers abbreviations and terms used in discussions of BT itself (e.g., organizations, software). Phil, I'm thinking this may evolve past abbreviations...
`BT` is also a common abbreviation for "back translation" (e.g. "Can I get the BT again?" 😊)