Wycliffe - Part 2
Things I learned about translating:
1. Translating the Bible drives people apart and brings them together:
Satan has put fear in the hearts of the Malagasy saying that having the Bible in each dialect will divide the people of Mada, but the reality is they are already divided by their languages nuances and tribal customs. God is the only one who can bring them together in true unity. The family of God is the only family that speaks every language in the world yet, has the same heart. For example. I don't have to speak the same language as the people I am with to worship with them through song.
2. Translating is more than just a word for word transposition:
When I sat in on the first seminar I was confused when the words they picked didn't follow exactly with what my English/Malagasy said. Then I realized that they were translating the verses to fit the way they would say it while still holding to the truth of what needed to be said. This is the amazing thing about the Bible. It says the truth, but in everyday language that everyone can understand. Now, I know there is debate about certain translations, but as I sat in the seminar I began to trust both the Malagasy Christians helping with the translation and the white people helping them to make sure they held to the truth.
3. The Malagasy people have trouble with action:
We came to the word obey and it turns out this is a difficult word for Malagasy to translate. Of course they have a word for "obey," in the official language but they don't use it in their individual dialects. So they know the word in theory, but that's where it ends. The Malagasy people are very passive. Sure, they can yell at you, but when it comes to obeying the word they use is "honor," which is close but not the same thing. To give honor to someone is not the same thing as to obey. Take time and think about this one. If there is no word for obeying in the Malagasy dialog how do they follow what God tells them do? Do they just honor Him passively or do they actively obey?
4. Cross-culturally I learned who I could trust and who to watch.
Recently, I have started to take note of the way people here react to me. Some are people of peace and some are leaches, sadly. As I interacted with a huge group of Malagasy strangers I realized that some of them saw my skin and others saw my love for Jesus. Moving forward I think this is an important distinction and I think it's okay to spend more time with the people of peace (not necessarily Christians but those who are open).
1. Translating the Bible drives people apart and brings them together:
Satan has put fear in the hearts of the Malagasy saying that having the Bible in each dialect will divide the people of Mada, but the reality is they are already divided by their languages nuances and tribal customs. God is the only one who can bring them together in true unity. The family of God is the only family that speaks every language in the world yet, has the same heart. For example. I don't have to speak the same language as the people I am with to worship with them through song.
2. Translating is more than just a word for word transposition:
When I sat in on the first seminar I was confused when the words they picked didn't follow exactly with what my English/Malagasy said. Then I realized that they were translating the verses to fit the way they would say it while still holding to the truth of what needed to be said. This is the amazing thing about the Bible. It says the truth, but in everyday language that everyone can understand. Now, I know there is debate about certain translations, but as I sat in the seminar I began to trust both the Malagasy Christians helping with the translation and the white people helping them to make sure they held to the truth.
3. The Malagasy people have trouble with action:
We came to the word obey and it turns out this is a difficult word for Malagasy to translate. Of course they have a word for "obey," in the official language but they don't use it in their individual dialects. So they know the word in theory, but that's where it ends. The Malagasy people are very passive. Sure, they can yell at you, but when it comes to obeying the word they use is "honor," which is close but not the same thing. To give honor to someone is not the same thing as to obey. Take time and think about this one. If there is no word for obeying in the Malagasy dialog how do they follow what God tells them do? Do they just honor Him passively or do they actively obey?
4. Cross-culturally I learned who I could trust and who to watch.
Recently, I have started to take note of the way people here react to me. Some are people of peace and some are leaches, sadly. As I interacted with a huge group of Malagasy strangers I realized that some of them saw my skin and others saw my love for Jesus. Moving forward I think this is an important distinction and I think it's okay to spend more time with the people of peace (not necessarily Christians but those who are open).
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