Category Archives: Translation and linguistics

What is it?

The Translators’ Training Course (TTC) is a 4-module course that provides training in translation principles, Bible background, study skills and language discovery. Participants attend as a team representing their language/tokples. Each team is assisted by a mentor.

• TTC-1 is an introductory course centred around producing a translation of Genesis 22:1-19.
• TTC-2 is based around translation of Genesis chapters 1-3 and Exodus ch. 15, looking at more Old Testament material and including an introduction to poetry and to the Hebrew language.
• TTC-3 is the first New Testament course, based on narrative and hortatory material (stories and sermons). An introduction to Greek is included. (not this year)
• TTC-4 is based around translation of Titus and teaches how to translate Epistle material. Greek skills are developed further to see how arguments are developed in the Greek text. (not this year)

It is expected that teams will complete the modules in order.

Who should come?

Teams of Papua New Guineans working on scripture translation. Each team needs to have at least two participants from the language community and a mentor who is able to be there in the course and provide on-going support between courses.

Prequisites:

Required: Applicants must pass an English Proficiency Test (available from Academic Training) before they can attend TTC-1; after each module a village assignment must be completed before applicants can attend the next module.

Preferred: Initial Skills Course for anyone with lower English proficiency.

Next session:

29 April – 3 June, 2020

What is it?

An English refresher course for those attending TTC to help them make the most of the materials in the course.

Who should come?

TTC participants

Next session:

22-28 April, 2020

What is it?

A two-week work-time for TTC translators to work on their assignments or have a consultant check.

Who should come?

TTC participants

Next session:

To be announced

What is it?

This one-week workshop provides a brief introduction to the art of dictionary making, including organisation of data (subentries, homonyms, compounds, dealing with dialects etc.), various elicitation techniques, example sentences, figurative language, improving user-friendliness, the possibilities offered by the Rapid Word Collection workshop, as well as exporting and printing.

The emphasis in the workshop is on principles of dictionary making, irrespective of the software you are using, though we can offer help on the programmes currently in use: FLEx, WeSay, Toolbox and LexiquePro. The workshop is ideal for getting ideas and moving your dictionary project a step forward. Sessions will be mornings only, with time for individual work and private consultations in the afternoon.

Who should come?

Linguists and experienced Papua New Guinean translators, such as BTA consultants.

Next session:

To be announced

What is it?

This course is designed to help people learn to do Alphabet Design Workshops.  The Alphabet Design Workshop is used to develop an alphabet quickly in about 2 weeks.  The course will give background to the workshop, methods, phonetics, preparation and follow-up needed as well as other issues in alphabet design.

Who should come?

Any person interested in learning to do an Alphabet Design Workshop or help with alphabet design in another language.  The course will be taught in English with some help in Pidgin if needed.  Those with Grades 8, 10 and 12 proficiency are encouraged to attend.

Next session:

To be announced

What is it?

A two-week introductory workshop that will introduce the participants in how to use the Paratext software for Bible translation. The course is designed for national translators with little or no experience with Paratext.

Who should come?

People involved in translation work but unfamiliar with the Paratext software.

Required knowledge:

Basic Computing Skills; reasonable English Proficiency. Participants bring their own computer.

Assumed knowledge:

The course will be taught mostly in English with some Tok Pisin.

Next session:

25 March – 7 April, 2020

12-25 August, 2020

What is it?

Further training in how to use the Paratext software for Bible translation. The course will start with intermediate features in Paratext and move into advanced features. The course will be taught using Paratext 7.5 (depending on software availability).

Who should come?

PNG translators who have successfully learned and practiced the concepts in Paratext 1 and are using Paratext to do Bible translation.

Prerequisites:

Paratext-1; intermediate knowledge of computers; [articipants bring their own computer and Paratext Project; good English Proficiency

Next session:

26 February – 10 March, 2020

25 November – 8 December, 2020

What is it?

The Paratext III Course provides additional training in how to use the Paratext software for Bible translation. This course covers using Paratext for Key Terms, and how to use the Interlinearizer for Adapting and Glossing translation text.

Who should come?

National translators who have successfully learned the concepts in Paratext II and are using Paratext to do Bible translation.

Prerequisites:

• Completion of the Paratext II course (please contact us if you think you qualify but have not taken Paratext II).
• Translation data within Paratext.

Assumed knowledge:

Intermediate knowledge of computers. The course will be taught mostly in English with some Tok Pisin.

Next session:

To be announced

What is it?

A four-week course for Papua New Guinean Bible translators who want to begin to investigate the grammatical structure of their own language, in order to better understand the process of translation into their Tok Ples and to improve the linguistic naturalness of their translation.

It follows on from the Language Discovery modules in TTC-1/2. Participants will be introduced to various linguistic concepts and find out how they work in their own languages. By the end of the course, participants will have written a short tentative description of the grammar of their own language to take with them.

Who should come?

Papua New Guineans who want to begin to investigate the grammatical structure of their own languages. Participants should attend in teams of two or four from the same language community.

Prerequisites:

Required: TTC-1/2; good English Proficiency; attendance in teams of 2

Preferred: Minimum of grade 8; computer; well-written vernacular stories

Next session:

14 October – 10 November, 2020

What is it?

A five-week course designed for language workers who would like to attend other courses but do not have sufficient English skills to meet the entry requirements. It develops English comprehension skills (grammar, listening, reading, writing, critical thinking).

Who should come?

Language workers who need to develop their English skills in order to be able to attend other courses.

Prerequisites:

Required: Basic proficiency in English; Preferred: Minimum of grade 8

Next session:

14 October – 17 November, 2020

What is it?

This 4-week workshop will have detailed exegetical input by which teams can polish or develop a draft of a particular epistle (e.g. Romans, James or Jude). Each year’s workshop looks at a different epistle. Workshop in the morning, translation time in the afternoon. This year’s course on Galatians will be taught in Tok Pisin, using and testing newly created Tok Pisin exegetical resources. The goals of the workshop are 1) to promote the Tok Pisin resources, and 2) to produce a translation of Galatians using Buk Baibel as a source text, but with reference to the Greek source text using a Greek /Tok Pisin Interlinear. Participants will be trained to use the Tok Pisin resources.

Who should come?

New Testament translators, including both expatriates and Papua New Guineans. Often it helps if several members of a translation team attend the workshop and work together.

Next session:

To be announced

What is it?

This two-week workshop will help strengthen skills in producing accurate back translations that reflect the vernacular for consultant checking.

Who should come?

Any translation team, but with a special focus for Papua New Guinean translators who need to develop skills in back translation.  The course will be taught in English.

Prerequisites:

Be involved in a translation project; good proficiency in English or Tok Pisin.

Next session:

To be announced

What is it?

This workshop is to be interactive and practical, emphasizing practice with back translations and actual checking.   Areas that will be included: 1) Philosophy of translation + discussion time; 2) Responsibilities of a consultant, including function and qualifications; 3) Conducting a consultant session; 4) Interpersonal skills and confronting + discussion; 5) Listening exercises; 6) Language: comparison of Papuan and Austronesian languages; 7) Asking questions: what kinds of questions, how many etc. 8) Growth plan for a consultant; 9) Prepare for a consultant check using a back translation; 10) Lots of back translation preparation practice + discussion times; 11) Assigned reading + discussion; 12) Categories of problems + discussion; 13) Role playing: Practice playing “consultant” and “translator”; 14) Practice consultant sessions with peer critiquing; 15) observing time under consultant.

Who should come?

The Translation Consultant Training Workshop is designed to train prospective consultants in the basics of what consultants do.

Next session:

To be announced