Category: Language Development

Jesus is God and Man – but Not a Pumpkin!

Jesus is God and Man – but Not a Pumpkin!

by | Mar 2, 2022 | , , , , , | 0

As the Rangi people of central Tanzania work to complete the New Testament in their own language very soon, the labor of extensive “final checks” proves to hold both significant challenges and unexpected rewards. Even while the community held a read-through of the whole NT, Rangi Translators struggled to include important updates and corrections. So they trained one of their Literacy workers to help – and she quickly found something they had all missed…

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Old calendar leads traveler to new translated Scripture

Old calendar leads traveler to new translated Scripture

by | Dec 14, 2021 | , , , | 0

After a bus journey of hundreds of miles and several days, Batila was home. She speaks Pangwa, and in her family’s village she saw a calendar filled with writing in her language. “Are there books in Pangwa?” she asked. Soon she was reading Mark’s Gospel, and buying copies to share with her family on both sides of the country…

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Community engagement sparks three new translation projects

Community engagement sparks three new translation projects

by | Nov 11, 2021 | , , , | 0

Several language groups in Tanzania will launch New Testament translation projects this year. Others have completed New Testaments in their hands (or final publication stages), and now they hope to locally own and manage an Old Testament project. In response, SIL Tanzania has launched the “Remaining Languages Project”…

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The Greatest Gift Brings the Greatest Joy

The Greatest Gift Brings the Greatest Joy

by | Sep 20, 2021 | , , , , , , | 0

“We now have God’s Word in Simbiti!” cries a dancing man. “Simbiti people say Oye!” They shout it in response, as a growing crowd parades through the village. The long-awaited celebration of a completed New Testament for Tanzania’s Simbiti people has begun. “This day was not easy,” says one of the Translators, “but the people are very happy to see that now the Simbiti New Testament is in their hands…”

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Research in Tanzania supports vernacular Scripture translation

Research in Tanzania supports vernacular Scripture translation

by | Jul 24, 2019 | , , , , , , , | 0

“Scripture translation into local languages may benefit communities far beyond simply increased comprehension,” according to a study which researched the sociolinguistic impact of such work in the Malila and Nyiha language communities. Findings on a range of issues led the author to make several recommendations…

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Church-based youth programme hosts encore workshops for youth literacy

Church-based youth programme hosts encore workshops for youth literacy

by | May 15, 2019 | , , , , | 0

Hundreds of Burunge and Rangi children, and even some of their parents, are learning to read their own language. Just months since SIL partnered with Compassion International to offer youth literacy workshops in those communities, four church-based programmes were once again filled with students eager to gain new language skills…

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Youth literacy fueled by five-way partnership

Youth literacy fueled by five-way partnership

by | Mar 10, 2019 | , , , , | 0

School children in the Burunge and Rangi language communities enjoyed literacy classes in their own language at simultaneous workshops. “It was fun to watch them follow in their new reading primers,” said a guest from funding partner Wycliffe USA. Instructors from SIL taught the lessons at an after-school program operated by Compassion International…

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Adult literacy expanding quickly in Mara Region

Adult literacy expanding quickly in Mara Region

by | Nov 21, 2018 | , , , | 0

“They were very excited,” said Neema (SIL Literacy team). In the Ikoma language area, Neema and a colleague had been training 19 people to teach transitional literacy classes for adults in their own language. “They promised to go and use what they learned,” Neema said, “to serve their community.” When the team returned just a week later, what they found happening surprised them…

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Language identity sparks new research by linguists

Language identity sparks new research by linguists

by | Oct 18, 2018 | , , , , | 0

Originally ‘clustered’ together with Simbiti (a related language), the 30,000 people who speak Kiroba “have such a strong group identity” that linguists have begun to investigate the need for a specially adapted translation. Their latest research study began with a week collecting Kiroba words in the village of Nyabange…

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Literacy teacher reads books to happy fishermen

Literacy teacher reads books to happy fishermen

by | Mar 7, 2018 | , , , , | 0

“Do you have books?” the man asked. Dafrosa (SIL Literacy/SE team) was on her way to teach in a Bungu village. “Yes,” she replied. “The fishermen need some,” he said. When they arrived at the lake, Dafrosa and the Language Area Officer found a crowd who bought books and calendars. “Please read to us,” several asked, holding out their books. “I will read them all,” Dafrosa answered…

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