Academic Training Necessary for Good Translation Work

It is difficult to find training programs specifically geared to the person who has Bible translation as their goal. It is also difficult to find faculty in places of higher education that understand how to advise such a student. The student therefore will need to plan their own educational program with counsel from those already in the field and the Lord's guidance. The following outline gives a general indication of some of the areas of concentration and the different academic levels at which each can be found.

I. Undergraduate

tttttA. Degree concentrations:

tttttttttt1. Communication

tttttttttt2. Cultural anthropology 

tttttttttt3. Biblical languages 

tttttttttt4. Missions

tttttB. Specific areas or courses:

tttttttttt1. Bible and theology, with emphasis on exegesis/hermeneutics

tttttttttt2. Communication, both verbal and written. Include cross-cultural communication

tttttttttt3. Foreign language

tttttttttt4. Linguistics

tttttttttt5. Cultural anthropology

tttttttttt6. Psychology, especially educational psychology

tttttttttt7. Translation theory, focus on Bible translation

Please note that on the graduate level schools are clearly divided in what they teach. Seminaries offer Bible courses, but their biblical language courses are not geared to the translator. Secular graduate schools offer linguistics and biblical languages from a strong academic standpoint, but do not offer well-balanced and doctrinally sound translation and interpretation techniques. Adequate training as a translator requires both, as well as either training or experience in crosscultural work.

II. Graduate Seminary

tttttA. Degree concentrations:

tttttttttt1. Exegesis and hermeneutics

tttttttttt2. Biblical languages

III. Graduate University

tttttA. Degree concentrations:

tttttttttt1. Linguistics

tttttttttt2. Biblical languages