Moved By Light

A day for important odds and ends.

Other Bible Texts. One of the strengths of our software, Paratext, is that it gives translators access to many versions of Scripture. They can look at the Greek and Hebrew, the NIV or the RSV, a Portuguese version, you name it.

So we just looked at what was added this year, and what we’d like to add. Someone is working on Net Bible notes. Someone asked (again) for the ASV—an older version which is very nice for glossing.

Translators Handbook

A new set of Translators’ Notes is being produced, (used also by Logos software). A group of mostl

Middle of the week. Long days of meetings. I was tired today. I feel almost foolish trying to explain what talked about today. It will seem like a waste of time to most people, I’m sure.

Standards matter. Just like plumbers have standard pipe sizes and threading, just like lumber comes in standard sizes, people who print Bible’s have standards.

Many of the world’s Bible texts are stored in a format called Standard Format Markers – SFM. It was a format derived from a piece of software called Ventura Publisher, very popular with Wycliffe projects over the years. The software got the job done, and it was flexible enough to do the sort of changes needed in the field.

This morning we talked about two worlds.

First, the world of people, specifically Africa and Asia. There are believers and non-believers waiting for Scripture. About 250 in Africa and 350 in Asia-Pacific. Among those, huge efforts, like the Chinese Bible revision, Thai Bible revision, and about 20 projects in Myanmar.

Second, the world of software…

Brian and I sit in Ontario with 21 other faithful. In this room sit people with primary responsibility for most of the Bible translation projects today.

On my right sits H. (names changed to protect their work), the man who oversees 350 projects in Asia. He also is spearheading the new Chinese Study Bible.

On the opposite corner sits M., who works in Europe and the Middle East. She’s in charge of bringing the new Arabic translation to print.

To my left sits S., who writes scholarly material for translaters.

Further on my left, L., who also supports Africa. He badly needs more people with a computer background.

As people who work with words all day, we thought this was interesting…

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but the wrod as a wlohe.

(I think I found the original study at Cambridge.)

We’ve been busy all week, but today slackens a bit. Some of our tranlstion people are getting their laundry done. Others went with our African manager to get some computer hardware for Africa.

It’s noon, and most plan to go to the farmers’ market down the street for lunch. I let my time get away from me and won’t make it.

This afternoon, the plan is to help some of our people in Bible publishing refine software. Brian is making a better check for out-of-order formatting codes. His counterparts from Africa and South America have similar desires, I think. Or they may want to work on concordancing.

Brian (left) and I (right) are here in Ontario learning some computer programming. What does that have to do with Scripture?

Well, as you can imagine, the road from wanting a translation to actually holding a Bible is a long one.

Made it safe to Kitchener. I picked up Helen in Port Huron and we travelled the rest of the way together, listening to some new Christian music from the U.K. Neat group called Phatfish, or something like that. They had a song about the second coming that was quite moving. I Skyped home and let Darla and the boys know I was safe. Brian isn't here yet. He flies into Toronto tomorrow afternoon. I'm feeling somewhat better. Plan to sleep soon and try make it to church with Jeff, Lisa, and kids.

Tomorrow I leave for Canada. I'll teach a class on using Python and ScriptureObjects to help translations. Brian will meet me there Sunday. We usually get some nice time to catch up on each other's lives and work. I'm really looking forward to that part. I'm fighting a nasty cold, though. The antihistamines have me a little foggy. I think I'm on the mend. Hope so. I dislike driving--and teaching--while sick.