OpenAI Just Killed Google Translate with GPT-4o - Analytics India Magazine - Translation

Listen to this story

At the OpenAI Spring Update, OpenAI CTO Mira Murati unveiled GPT-4o, a new flagship model that enriches its suite with ‘omni’ capabilities across text, vision, and audio, promising iterative rollouts to enhance both developer and consumer products in the coming weeks. 

“They are releasing a combined text-audio-vision model that processes all three modalities in one single neural network, which can then do real-time voice translation as a special case afterthought, if you ask it to,” said former OpenAI computer scientist Andrej Karpathy, who was quick to respond to the release. 

They are releasing a combined text-audio-vision model that processes all three modalities in one single neural network, which can then do real-time voice translation as a special case afterthought, if you ask it to.

(fixed it for you) https://t.co/0y36OId88h

— Andrej Karpathy (@karpathy) May 13, 2024

“The new voice (and video) mode is the best compute interface I’ve ever used. It feels like AI from the movies; and it’s still a bit surprising to me that it’s real. Getting to human-level response times and expressiveness turns out to be a big change,” said OpenAI chief Sam Altman, who wants to bring ‘Universal Basic Compute’ to everyone in the world. 

Further, he said that the original ChatGPT hinted at what was possible with language interfaces; “this new thing feels viscerally different. It is fast, smart, fun, natural, and helpful.” 

Altman said that talking to a computer has never felt really natural for him. “Now it does,” he said, hopeful about the future where people will be using computers to do more than ever before. 

What’s really interesting about GPT-4o is that it will be available to ChatGPT Plus (with some personalisation features) and ChatGPT free users soon. “We are a business and will find plenty of things to charge for, and that will help us provide free, outstanding AI service to (hopefully) billions of people,” said Altman. 

“Thanks to Jensen and the NVIDIA team for bringing us the most advanced GPUs to make this demo possible today,” said Murati during her closing remarks. 

Meanwhile, OpenAI president and co-founder Greg Brockman also demonstrated human-computer interaction (and even human-computer-computer), giving users a glimpse of pre-AGI vibes. 

Introducing GPT-4o, our new model which can reason across text, audio, and video in real time.

It's extremely versatile, fun to play with, and is a step towards a much more natural form of human-computer interaction (and even human-computer-computer interaction): pic.twitter.com/VLG7TJ1JQx

— Greg Brockman (@gdb) May 13, 2024

RIP Google Translate? 

In the demonstration of GPT-4o’s real-time translation capabilities, the model seamlessly translated between English and Italian, exemplifying its sophisticated linguistic adaptability. Many believe that this new feature of OpenAI is likely to replace Google Translate. 

“OpenAI just killed Google Translate with their real-time translator (near 0 delay in response),” said Fraser, 

Meanwhile, Google is getting ready to make some major announcements tomorrow at Google I/O. “Super excited for my first Google I/O tomorrow and to share what we’ve been working on!,” shared Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis, sharing a similar glimpse of its multi-modal AI assistant. 

Not just Google, but many were quick to point out the end of many AI startups offering similar solutions and features. 

“OpenAI just shot Rabbit in the face,” said AI developer Benjamin De Kraker. 

Interestingly, OpenAI also announced the launch of the GPT-4o API, which developers can use to build new products and solutions. 

ok we got the API. the game is not killing each other, it's everyone working on the same foundations. once the foundations are solid, the building on top of it will be much different. pic.twitter.com/FDyqlEZzOb

— Jesse Lyu (@jessechenglyu) May 13, 2024

Meanwhile, Hume AI, which released EVI (Empathetic Voice Interface), also felt the pressure, making them launch its API today, alongside other future improvements. 

The future of empathic AI is looking bright! Emotionally intelligent AI will be standard for all voice-based applications in the future. EVI is available today through our API, so you can start building immediately. We have a lot of exciting improvements coming soon — this is…

— Hume (@hume_ai) May 13, 2024

Improves Non-English Language Performance

Interestingly, OpenAI has also expanded its language capabilities, supporting over 50 languages, including Indian languages. GPT-4o has significantly optimised token usage for Indian languages, reducing Gujarati by 4.4x, Telugu by 3.5x, Tamil by 3.3x, and Marathi and Hindi by 2.9x. 

We also have significantly improved non-English language performance quite a lot, including improving the tokenizer to better compress many of them: pic.twitter.com/hE92x1qmM1

— Greg Brockman (@gdb) May 13, 2024

GPT-4o can engage in natural, real-time voice conversations and has the ability to converse with ChatGPT via real-time video. It also understands the emotional tone of the speaker and can adjust its tone and modulation accordingly.

Moreover, the latest model can understand and discuss images, allowing users to take a picture of a menu in a foreign language and translate it, learn about the food’s history and significance, and receive recommendations.

One Step Closer to Autonomous Agents

Another interesting update was OpenAI’s announcement of the ChatGPT (GPT-4o) desktop app, which can read your screen in real-time. The app allows for voice conversations, screenshot discussions, and instant access to ChatGPT.

When will GPT-4 ‘Omni’ Arrive? 

(Source: X) 

GPT-4o’s text and image capabilities are starting to roll out today in ChatGPT. Developers can now access GPT-4o in the API as a text and vision model.

The company is rolling out GPT-4o to ChatGPT Plus and Team users, with Enterprise users to follow soon. ChatGPT Free users will also have access to advanced tools, including features like GPT-4 level intelligence, web responses, data analysis, and file uploads.

However, ChatGPT Free users will have a message limit, which will increase as usage and demand grow. When the limit is reached, the app will automatically switch to GPT-3.5 to ensure uninterrupted conversations.Last but not least, the company has also introduced a simplified look and feel for ChatGPT, featuring a new home screen, message layout, and more. The new design is designed to be friendlier and more conversational.

Adblock test (Why?)

Trenton’s translation ordinance meets obstacles on first introduction - The Trentonian - Translation

An ordinance being proposed to support the translation of important City of Trenton documents from English to Spanish stalled last week as members of City Council lacked collaboration.

Law Director Wes Bridges and Business Administrator Adam Cruz said city council members delivered a proposal prematurely.

“This really provides a good example of (the importance of) city council and the administration working collaboratively. It’s imperative that when city council makes these proposals that they speak with the administration,” Cruz advised.

“You could have a great idea, and, this is a great idea. But we have to budget for this, make sure we have the resources for this.” Cruz expressed a need for definitive dollar amounts and specifics for city documents being presented for translation.

At-large Councilwoman Yazminelly Gonzalez sponsored the legislation. She sounded perturbed by questions being asked by several colleagues.

“I sent an email to every member of city council, asking for ideas and suggestions before the rollout. I didn’t get a response from anyone. I didn’t know if anyone had any ideas in regard to this (ordinance) or not,” Gonzalez explained.

Bridges echoed the Cruz assessment of city council needing to deliver concise legislation before those items make their way onto the docket.

“While we have a great working relationship with city council, this is again an example why it’s imperative when you’re coming and planning these before your governing body for a vote, if it’s something that’s going to require budget (action), something that the administration must put forward, we’re obviously always supportive of council to put these things forward — it’s imperative we work in tandem” to advance initiatives,” Bridges said.

He added that both parties should act “conjunctively and not just unilaterally, so we know there’s a concrete plan in place to make sure (proposals) happen but also to assure there’s funding available.”
Bridges said a continued working relationship between city council and the administration requires conversations before items reach docket stage.

City Council expects to reintroduce the legislation shortly. The translation ordinance eventually will extend to other languages.

Adblock test (Why?)

Sigma Slang Definition: What Does 'Sigma’ Mean? - TODAY - Dictionary

What the sigma?

Some know “sigma” as the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet but it’s also teen slang for a cool dude.

According to Know Your Meme, sigma is “referring to a supposed classification for men who are successful and popular, but also silent and rebellious.” Sigma males are “considered ‘equal’ to Alphas on the hierarchy but live outside of the hierarchy by choice,” reads the website.

Urban Dictionary adds that sigma “is what all 10 year olds think they are.” As reported by British GQ, the word “sigma” was born from the misogynistic “manosphere.”

What does ‘sigma’ mean?

Philip Lindsay, a special education math teacher in Payson, Arizona, broke down “Sigma” on TikTok.

“There’s this group of people who have this hierarchy for males — there’s ‘alpha’ and there’s ‘sigma,’” Lindsay said in a video. “This is a group of people that mainly ranks males based on looks, success, that whole thing.”

Lindsay added, “So they have the ‘alpha’ which is the most successful, the best looking and then they have ‘sigma’ which is the same thing as an alpha but humbler.”

Another definition for “sigma” says Lindsay, is “the best.”

Read more about teen slang:

“Kids use Alpha and Sigma interchangeably,” Lindsay tells TODAY.com. “They don’t make much of a distinction between being humble or not, even though that’s (technically) the definition.”

Lindsay clarifies, “Beta is an insult. (It means) ‘You’re inferior to me and I’m better than you.'”

‘What the sigma?’

According to Lindsay, “What the sigma?” is traced to a SpongeBob SquarePants internet meme (which a spokesperson of Nickelodeon tells TODAY.com is fan-created).

In the video, Squidward and SpongeBob, characters from the cartoon show “SpongeBob Squarepants,” watch footage of a waffle cone dipped in chocolate syrup and sprinkles.

“That looks insane,” said SpongeBob in the video.

“That also looks very unhealthy,” replied Squidward, stating, “Erm, what the sigma?”

Lindsay said “sigma” is from the same culture as mewing and looksmaxing, trends — according to the New York Times — that claim to help teens look better.

One example of “Looksmaxing” is “Mewing”: teens flatten their tongues to the tops of their mouths, to supposedly eliminate a double chin, a method that American Association of Orthodontists says is not scientific. The teen version of “mewing” is a “hush” symbol and touching the jawline to mean, “I can’t talk.”

Lindsay tells TODAY.com that “sigma” is a classroom trend.

“They say, ‘Are you sigma Mr. Lindsay?’ or ‘Yo, that’s so sigma’ when I do something that pleases them like (assigning) math problems (to solve) with an online game,” he says, adding that in his classroom, “Sigma is going strong.”

Adblock test (Why?)

‘The Chosen’ Breaks Record for Most-Translated TV Show | News & Reporting - ChristianityToday.com - Translation

The film was familiar but the language was new for Come and See CEO Stan Jantz.

As he sat in a theater in Warsaw, he looked around the room and saw people laughing and crying in the same places he had laughed and cried when he watched The Chosen, the popular streaming series that tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of the disciples. That was the moment of truth for Jantz. The real test for a translation—going beyond accuracy alone—is whether it connects with human hearts.

“Translation also has to be beautiful,” Jantz told CT. “It’s an art as much as it is a science.”

Come and See has dubbed or subtitled The Chosen into 50 languages so far. The group has plans to do the same for 550 more languages.

No TV show has ever been translated into that many languages. Few shows are dubbed more than a handful of times, even in an era where viewership of translated programs has dramatically increased, thanks to streaming services’ global business plans. Netflix can dub shows into about three dozen languages but mostly works in French, German, Polish, Italian, Turkish, Castilian Spanish, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. Some very popular shows are remade in another language, like Suits, which has Japanese, Korean, and Mongolian versions.

Baywatch, starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, has been translated 34 times. That was the record, until Come and See started turning out dubbed versions of The Chosen.

There’s not a lot of profit in dubbing, so for-profit efforts will only go so far. A nonprofit like Come and See can do more.

The group wants to reach 1 billion people with the show, so The Chosen can connect people to Jesus and bring them to faith. Come and See has partnered with The Chosen to translate the program for audiences that would otherwise never get to watch Jesus walk on water, heal the sick, and preach the Good News in their own language.

“It’s a huge challenge,” said Jantz, “but we’re finding it to be a goal that is so very important.”

The dubbed versions of The Chosen are currently available on an app. It takes Come and See between three and five months to translate a season of the show into a new language. The group partners with other organizations that specialize in translation to speed up the process.

As with Bible translation projects, Come and See has prioritized the most-spoken languages, where a translation of the show could have an impact on the largest number of people.

“But there are what I would call exceptions,” Jantz said.

One of the first 50 translations, for example, was into Malagasy, which is spoken by about 25 million people in Madagascar and the Comoros. That dub job was prioritized at the request of Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina.

Rajoelina watched the show and wanted everyone in his country to be able to see it, Jantz said. It’s typical for TV to be subtitled for viewers in the African island country, but many people in Madagascar cannot read. Rajoelina wanted those people to understand The Chosen too.

The Chosen was dubbed into Malagasy in 2023. It is believed to be the first show ever dubbed in the language. The impact was powerful.

“The effect goes on to this day,” Jantz said. “It’s been almost a year since that was done, but we still get stories of how they’re taking these translated episodes into remote places. It’s really exciting to see.”

The most-watched translation of The Chosen, so far, is Brazilian Portuguese. The first two episodes of season 4 were shown on 1,100 screens across Brazil and viewed by 275,000 people.

“Our prayer is that this series will be used by God to have a meaningful impact around the world and introduce many to the hope that is only found in Jesus,” Rick Dempsey Sr., a vice president at Come and See, told CT in an email.

Translation is a challenge, though. Come and See not only has to assess the number of people who might want to watch The Chosen in another language but whether the technology is available in an area for people to be able to watch. Dempsey called this the “digital vitality” of a language.

When Come and See decides to translate The Chosen into a language, they seek out pastors, Bible translators, and Bible scholars who speak that language.

“Whenever the English script includes a verbatim quote from Scripture, it’s crucial to ensure we refer to the corresponding passage in the vernacular Bible translation,” Dempsey said. “We document the book, chapter, and verse from the Bible where a quote comes from to help ensure consistency.”

They also have to find native speakers and language experts to help with English idioms. Phrases like sitting ducks or train of thought—or even born again—can be easily misunderstood if not handled with care, he said.

One of the experts who has helped is Imed Dabbour, a Christian journalist and poet from Tunisia. Dabbour started watching The Chosen with his children during a COVID-19 lockdown and loved it.

“The show’s unique Christian message speaks volumes, especially through its genuine depiction of Jesus and the compelling and unique story of Matthew, which personally resonated with me,” he said. “When I stumbled upon a plan for translating the show into Arabic, I felt compelled to reach out and take action.”

Dabbour, like Jantz, believes that accuracy is really important but that the test of translation is capturing linguistic subtleties and connecting with people on an emotional level.

“We strive to effectively convey the intended message to a Middle Eastern audience while respecting cultural nuances. It’s a delicate balance,” he said. “Bringing the show to diverse audiences in their mother tongue is a powerful way to touch hearts and ignite curiosity, potentially leading viewers to explore Scripture further.”

Kyle Young, head of The Chosen’s marketing and distribution department, said the show has now reached 200 million viewers. The viewership outside the US is now larger than its American audience. It is especially popular in Brazil, Mexico, India, Poland, and the Philippines.

“We have seen an explosion of The Chosen all around the world,” he told CT. “If the translation work was poor, we would certainly not see that level of engagement. That is a huge aspect of the success internationally.”

The Chosen is expected to conclude after three more seasons. The translation of the show into 550 more languages will go on for years after that, Jantz said. For him, it’s worthwhile, because the show is more than a show. The people who watch it could become not just fans but followers of Jesus.

Adblock test (Why?)

‘The Chosen’ Breaks Record for Most-Translated TV Show | News & Reporting - ChristianityToday.com - Translation

The film was familiar but the language was new for Come and See CEO Stan Jantz.

As he sat in a theater in Warsaw, he looked around the room and saw people laughing and crying in the same places he had laughed and cried when he watched The Chosen, the popular streaming series that tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of the disciples. That was the moment of truth for Jantz. The real test for a translation—going beyond accuracy alone—is whether it connects with human hearts.

“Translation also has to be beautiful,” Jantz told CT. “It’s an art as much as it is a science.”

Come and See has dubbed or subtitled The Chosen into 50 languages so far. The group has plans to do the same for 550 more languages.

No TV show has ever been translated into that many languages. Few shows are dubbed more than a handful of times, even in an era where viewership of translated programs has dramatically increased, thanks to streaming services’ global business plans. Netflix can dub shows into about three dozen languages but mostly works in French, German, Polish, Italian, Turkish, Castilian Spanish, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. Some very popular shows are remade in another language, like Suits, which has Japanese, Korean, and Mongolian versions.

Baywatch, starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, has been translated 34 times. That was the record, until Come and See started turning out dubbed versions of The Chosen.

There’s not a lot of profit in dubbing, so for-profit efforts will only go so far. A nonprofit like Come and See can do more.

The group wants to reach 1 billion people with the show, so The Chosen can connect people to Jesus and bring them to faith. Come and See has partnered with The Chosen to translate the program for audiences that would otherwise never get to watch Jesus walk on water, heal the sick, and preach the Good News in their own language.

“It’s a huge challenge,” said Jantz, “but we’re finding it to be a goal that is so very important.”

The dubbed versions of The Chosen are currently available on an app. It takes Come and See between three and five months to translate a season of the show into a new language. The group partners with other organizations that specialize in translation to speed up the process.

As with Bible translation projects, Come and See has prioritized the most-spoken languages, where a translation of the show could have an impact on the largest number of people.

“But there are what I would call exceptions,” Jantz said.

One of the first 50 translations, for example, was into Malagasy, which is spoken by about 25 million people in Madagascar and the Comoros. That dub job was prioritized at the request of Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina.

Rajoelina watched the show and wanted everyone in his country to be able to see it, Jantz said. It’s typical for TV to be subtitled for viewers in the African island country, but many people in Madagascar cannot read. Rajoelina wanted those people to understand The Chosen too.

The Chosen was dubbed into Malagasy in 2023. It is believed to be the first show ever dubbed in the language. The impact was powerful.

“The effect goes on to this day,” Jantz said. “It’s been almost a year since that was done, but we still get stories of how they’re taking these translated episodes into remote places. It’s really exciting to see.”

The most-watched translation of The Chosen, so far, is Brazilian Portuguese. The first two episodes of season 4 were shown on 1,100 screens across Brazil and viewed by 275,000 people.

“Our prayer is that this series will be used by God to have a meaningful impact around the world and introduce many to the hope that is only found in Jesus,” Rick Dempsey Sr., a vice president at Come and See, told CT in an email.

Translation is a challenge, though. Come and See not only has to assess the number of people who might want to watch The Chosen in another language but whether the technology is available in an area for people to be able to watch. Dempsey called this the “digital vitality” of a language.

When Come and See decides to translate The Chosen into a language, they seek out pastors, Bible translators, and Bible scholars who speak that language.

“Whenever the English script includes a verbatim quote from Scripture, it’s crucial to ensure we refer to the corresponding passage in the vernacular Bible translation,” Dempsey said. “We document the book, chapter, and verse from the Bible where a quote comes from to help ensure consistency.”

They also have to find native speakers and language experts to help with English idioms. Phrases like sitting ducks or train of thought—or even born again—can be easily misunderstood if not handled with care, he said.

One of the experts who has helped is Imed Dabbour, a Christian journalist and poet from Tunisia. Dabbour started watching The Chosen with his children during a COVID-19 lockdown and loved it.

“The show’s unique Christian message speaks volumes, especially through its genuine depiction of Jesus and the compelling and unique story of Matthew, which personally resonated with me,” he said. “When I stumbled upon a plan for translating the show into Arabic, I felt compelled to reach out and take action.”

Dabbour, like Jantz, believes that accuracy is really important but that the test of translation is capturing linguistic subtleties and connecting with people on an emotional level.

“We strive to effectively convey the intended message to a Middle Eastern audience while respecting cultural nuances. It’s a delicate balance,” he said. “Bringing the show to diverse audiences in their mother tongue is a powerful way to touch hearts and ignite curiosity, potentially leading viewers to explore Scripture further.”

Kyle Young, head of The Chosen’s marketing and distribution department, said the show has now reached 200 million viewers. The viewership outside the US is now larger than its American audience. It is especially popular in Brazil, Mexico, India, Poland, and the Philippines.

“We have seen an explosion of The Chosen all around the world,” he told CT. “If the translation work was poor, we would certainly not see that level of engagement. That is a huge aspect of the success internationally.”

The Chosen is expected to conclude after three more seasons. The translation of the show into 550 more languages will go on for years after that, Jantz said. For him, it’s worthwhile, because the show is more than a show. The people who watch it could become not just fans but followers of Jesus.

Adblock test (Why?)

LINKDOOD Unveils Groundbreaking Native Language Real-Time Translation, Empowering Businesses to Break ... - Yahoo Finance - Translation

Language No Longer an Obstacle as LINKDOOD Ushers in New Era of Seamless International Business Communication

People talking via real time native communication platform

SINGAPORE and HONG KONG, May 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In today's increasingly globalized business landscape, multinational corporations face a significant challenge: effectively communicating across languages and cultures. LINKDOOD Technology unveiled a revolutionary native language real-time translation feature designed to help businesses shatter language barriers and achieve seamless global communication.

"Our mission is to provide global enterprises with a highly efficient, user-friendly, and secure platform for cross-language communication," said Richard Yi, CEO of LINKDOOD. "Our system enables real-time translation for over 100 languages, empowering users to communicate in their native tongue through the LINKDOOD instant messaging platform, dramatically enhancing communication efficiency and accuracy."

The launch of this groundbreaking feature comes at a critical juncture as businesses accelerate their international expansion. Efficient cross-border communication has become a key driver of growth and daily operations. Traditional methods, such as relying on professional translators or third-party translation tools, often face challenges including low efficiency, high costs, and compromised information security. LINKDOOD's native language real-time translation feature promises to revolutionize this landscape.

The feature intelligently identifies language types and instantly converts messages into the recipient's native language during chat sessions. This means that whether collaborating on international projects, providing customer support, or participating in global conferences, users can express themselves in their most comfortable and precise native language while instantly understanding responses from their counterparts.

LINKDOOD's native language real-time translation feature also offers a highly secure and reliable environment for business communication. By employing private server deployment and end-to-end encryption technology, the company ensures that sensitive information and trade secrets remain protected. This is particularly crucial for multinational corporations that prioritize data privacy.

Industry experts praise LINKDOOD's latest innovation, noting that it showcases the company's prowess in artificial intelligence and language technology, setting a new standard for international business communication. As the feature continues to be refined and adopted, a growing number of enterprises are poised to benefit from this technological breakthrough, gaining a competitive edge in the era of global economic integration.

About LINKDOOD Technology

LINKDOOD Technology Co., Ltd. is an innovative technology company dedicated to developing AI-powered real-time communication solutions. The introduction of the native language real-time translation feature marks a significant milestone in LINKDOOD's mission to break down barriers in global communication.

Contact Information:

Email: marketing@linkdood.com

Website: https://ift.tt/Z9PaqAn

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://ift.tt/K0cCSdo

Adblock test (Why?)

Global South churches challenge role of the West in Bible translation - The Christian Post - Translation

By Andrew Flemming, Sunday, May 12, 2024

Wycliffe Bible Translators project in South Sudan, video posted on April 11, 2018. | YouTube/Wycliffe Bible Translators

I keep three glass jars in my office. One is full of red beads, the other is mostly full of yellow, and the last one has a small layer of green. The red beads represent 80% of the world’s population, the number of people who have access to the whole of God’s Word in their language. The second jar contains yellow beads for those that have either a Bible translation in process, some part of Scripture available, or an entire New Testament. 

And then there’s the jar of green beads.

Representing only 3% of the population, this last jar is a visual reminder of the men, women, and children who still do not have access to God’s Word in their language.

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

Though this number can feel daunting, I’m encouraged by how God is inspiring and equipping local churches in furthering Bible translation efforts around the world.

The shifting role of local churches around the world 

Local churches play a critical role in Bible translations because they see the need within the community that sparks a desire for others to know God. Plainly put — the translating process becomes personal. When a local church is involved in translation, participation leads to active use and life transformation.

When people engage with all of Scripture, understand it, and digest it, what we end up seeing is discipleship within the church. Personal growth leads to church growth.

In a recent study, YouVersion, a nonprofit digitally connecting people all over the world to God’s Word, reported daily usage of the Bible increased by 20% in 2023 compared to the previous year, confirming a growing number of people interacting with the Bible each day. What we see in our translation work correlates with this data.

God has uniquely positioned the local church to share His Word with their neighbors. A wonderful example is in Madagascar, where a large local church has started to translate the Bible and asked Wycliffe Bible Translators to play a supporting role. They desire to reach their entire island and then take God’s Word to other island nations in the Indian Ocean and on to East Africa. How blessed are the feet of those who bring good news.

A new role for Bible translators

As Bible translators, our goal has never been simply to translate the Bible for its own sake. Though we’ve been tremendously blessed throughout our existence by the ability to offer God’s word to millions of people, what we truly want is for lives to be transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

With local churches increasingly leading the way in translation work, translation agencies have a different role to play now. No longer the primary advocate, Bible translators must assume a posture of humility and be an integral and supportive resource for the local churches doing the bulk of the work.

Through our network and years of experience, we’ve been able to develop a set of materials that breaks Scripture down into digestible sections. A process of familiarization, internalization, and articulation was created so people groups with a minority language could have an oral Bible translation. We also coach and advise, and have even started to translate our translation resources.

Recently in Nigeria, two lead pastors came up to us with appreciation but said, “With or without you, we’re going to do this,” referring to translating the Bible into their language. They wanted Wycliffe to partner with them, but their call from God was clear. The translation was their ministry and their responsibility. What a joy to see God move in such a powerful way! What a privilege it is to be able to come alongside them to help them carry out the call of God on their lives.

Challenging the role of churches in the West

For decades, the role of the Western church in Bible translation was to send workers out to do the work. This has contributed to the fact that the epicenter of the global church has now shifted to the South and East. Following this trend, Bible engagement is decreasing in the West and North, but it’s increasing in other areas of the world. All of this sets up churches in the West to play a supportive role as others take the lead in translation efforts.

There’s a reason why the small number of green beads in my jar hasn’t changed much in recent years. They represent the areas where Christians are highly persecuted, are small in number, and where the people are under severe economic stress and extreme political unrest. Only God can make a way in these areas, and I want to challenge individuals in the U.S. to support Bible translation efforts through consistent and fervent prayer — it’s the most important way you can partner with us in this work. 

I also want to encourage churches and leaders to learn, share, and celebrate where translations are being completed. Tell others about this exciting work. And as a church, pray with purpose for unreached people in the world.

Compared to the red and yellow beads on my shelf, the green jar looks almost empty. We are reaching so many with God’s Word, but there’s more work to do. God has gifted His local church to do this work — both globally and from right where you are.

Andrew Flemming is the Vice President of Global Partnerships Engagement at Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Adblock test (Why?)