Giving Voice: Linguistics in Oral Bible Translation

Discover how God's Word is brought to life beyond the written page. This workshop explores the distinct worlds of written, audio and oral Bible translation, highlighting how linguistic science intersects with cognitive psychology and sociology to shape effective communication.

At the heart of Bible translation (whether written or oral) is internalisation—where translators engage deeply (rather than merely memorise) with the source text before drafting it in a target language. You will learn how this approach blends oral art forms to present Scripture in a way that resonates naturally and powerfully with minority language communities.

Who Should Attend the Workshop?

• Anyone curious about written, audio, and oral Bible translation

• Those interested in the linguistics behind oral translation

• No prior linguistics background needed!

Key Takeaways

• Foundation: Walk away with fresh insights and reflections on how orally translated Bibles connect more naturally with minority language communities.

• Formation: Gain hands-on exposure to internalisation—the single most crucial process in Bible translation (written and oral).

Speaker’s Profile

KC is a full-time Bible Translation Consultant with SIL Global, where he helped complete the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament for a minority language project. He loves mentoring younger translators and, alongside his wife Nan, has spent years partnering with communities on livelihood, development, and scripture engagement projects.

Describing himself as an "alchemist" who loves helping people go from good to great, KC enjoys morning routines of brewing black kopi and making soft-boiled eggs with Nan. Some of his favourite personal milestones include baptising all three of their children in the sea—each with a unique Bible verse—and giving the word of exhortation at his daughter’s beach wedding 3 years ago.