Stages in the translation process

‘Why is this translation taking so long?’ This is one of the questions we get about why it takes a number of years to provide a New Testament or complete Bible to a community. Among other reasons, our translations go through thorough stages with different translation teams and experts to ensure that we produce and hand over error-free Scriptures in text, audio, or film that speak the language of the communities we serve. We, however, acknowledge the technology and continuous learning that are helping shorten the process.

• Exegesis (EX): Study the book through Bible versions, commentaries, & other exegetical helps to discover meaning.
• Drafting (DR): A translator types the first draft & proofreads their draft.
•  Supplementary Materials (SM): Drafting or deciding on extra Biblical help, e.g., Glossary, Concordance, Lectionary, Footnotes, Pictures, Maps, Section heads, Book introduction.
• Team check (TC): A team of translators reads through the draft to adopt it, sometimes with a Technical Advisor (TA).
• Key Biblical Terms (KBT): Key Biblical Terms Check/Workshop: To help churches agree on appropriate renderings, meaning, & consistency.
• Preliminary Testing (PT): Testing difficult translation areas (terminology, phrases, idioms, & language use) with two to three people. It happens through reading aloud, comprehension questions, filling in missing words, retelling or summarizing, giving a section title, and alternative words.
• Back-Translation (BT): A member of the team or an external person drafts a written gloss or equivalent in the language of the consultant. This can also be done through adaptation tools or given orally where necessary.
• Consultant Check (CC): A Translation Consultant checks text with the team to review mainly accuracy (meaning) & sometimes clarity and natural language use.
• Community Review & Testing (CR): A community review team reads through the text to check naturalness, clarity & acceptability (not accuracy*)
• Final checks & preparation (FC): The translators & their Translation Consultant use Paratext checking tools and prepare additional pre-publication materials
• Final read-through (FRT): Initial typesetting, printing Trial Edition for read-through by community members
• Publication & Dedication (PD): Final editing, Final typesetting, printing, dedication & distribution