Translation Consultant Position Description
Bibles International Division of Baptist Mid-Missions

Position Title: TRANSLATION CONSULTANT

Objectives of Position:

1. Good functional and personal interaction with participants in Text Production and in other relationships with Bibles International, Baptist Mid-Missions and national groups.

2. Production of translation manuscripts and translation helps which are of the highest quality, conforming to Bibles International standards and policies.

Responsible to:

1. Projects Director and Project Coordinator for project organization and status. 2. Chief Translation Consultant for assignments and textual matters.

Responsible for:

The Scripture translation activity of the missionary and national translators assigned to him or her and facilitate the Bible translators' field work by consultation with them on linguistics, biblical languages, exegesis, and Bible translation principles and methods.

Responsibilities:

1. During translation workshops, check the accuracy of the translation draft in face-to-face sessions with individual translators or with groups of translators. Check for accuracy in exegesis, accuracy in representing the "meaning" of the biblical text, and accuracy of the fit in the target language. Ensure that the Bibles International Translation Principles and Standards are followed.

2. Provide accurate workshop reports as specified by Bibles International to the Chief Translation Consultant and respective Projects Coordinator.

3. In cooperation with the Chief Translation Consultant, provide written recommendation that any Bible text presented for publication satisfactorily meets the quality standards appropriate for its present stage of production.

4. Assist the Project Coordinator in recruiting national and expatriate translators.

5. In cooperation with the Chief Translation Consultant and Project Coordinator help qualify and train new translators as necessary, and update present translators in principles of hermeneutics and principles and methods of Bibles translation.

6. Assist the Projects Coordinators to develop and guide translators to training programs available to them. The initial and on-going training of the translators is invaluable to the high quality translation work required by Bibles International.

7. In cooperation with the Chief Translation Consultant, help to develop an exegetical library for translators and to develop a file of translator helps and checklists.

8. Continue to upgrade personal exegetical, linguistic and translation skills.

9. Keep the Chief Translation Consultant informed of progress, needs and problems on all projects with which you work.

10. Represent Bibles International in churches and other meetings as schedule and resources permit.

11. Research and produce those translator helps assigned.

12. Work with the Chief Translation Consultant and others as assigned to verify the accuracy and usefulness of the translation helps.

Qualifications:

The objectives of the position will be fulfilled most successfully by a person with these qualifications.

1. Character and gifts:

a. Personal commitment to Jesus Christ, to His commission and to His Word.

b. Spiritual and emotional maturity demonstrated by integrity, objectivity and intellectual honesty.

c. Interest and ability in biblical exegesis and teaching.

d. Ability to spend long hours on detail work.

e. Open mind to non-traditional ways of looking at language and translation.

f. Willingness to travel and operate under less than ideal conditions for weeks at a time. (Some consultants travel to workshops from their U.S. based homes while some live and work in other countries.)

2. Academic preparation:

a. Master of Divinity degree or equivalent with proficiency in Greek and/or Hebrew.

b. Linguistics training comparable to at least two summers at Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL).

c. Training and reading in translation theory.

d. Speaking fluency in a language other than English, with French preferred and Spanish, or Portuguese as secondary choices.

e. Reading fluency in French, Spanish, or Portuguese.

f. Fluency and academic understanding of the language in which helps are being prepared.

3. Experience:

a. Biblical exegesis and teaching.

b. At least one term of field experience in Bible translation.

c. Field experience in language analysis, for which a concurrent term with Bible translation would be ideal.

4. Missionary appointment by Baptist Mid-Missions.