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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“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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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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“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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“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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In Mshewe village, there is a ladies’ football club which meets regularly to play. Each time, they also practice reading together using Scripture portions in their language. Recently, the team traveled to a nearby village to encourage them to do the same…
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After years of research and testing, the Bungu team’s orthography (writing system) has been officially granted ‘trial’ status. So they quickly prepared materials and set out for Mkwajuni town, for the first-ever Bungu literacy workshop…
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As Scripture translation work begins in the Mbugwe community, early language development work is already producing the first materials ever printed in their language…
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Like many language communities in Tanzania, the Rangi live “all over”. The team’s Translators wanted more people to know about their work, so they launched a public group on social media. They quickly learned that interest was high…
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For children who speak Burunge at home, the challenge of adding Swahili and English at school is a familiar one. One of the local pastors, now a Burunge Bible Translator, reflects on how early literacy may be one of the greatest “added benefits” to his work…
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“The Zinza word ‘obubasi’ might be right for us to translate the word ‘prophet’ in Scripture. Or so we thought, but everywhere we go: blank stares. Then the Zinza translator accidentally stretched out the ‘a’ vowel…
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The translation office has been built, with the help of many teams, both young and old! Work has progressed, and several books of the Bible have been printed. But what to do when the project funds are cut? In answer to this dilemma…
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