Gateway Language Checking

Checking the ULT

Note

This module answers the question, “What are the guidelines for checking the ULT?”

When checking the ULT, remember that the ULT needs to retain the original grammatical forms (as far as possible), the idioms, and the figures of speech of the original so that the OL translator can consider them and use them if they communicate the right thing in the target language. If those forms get changed in a GL translation of the ULT, then the OL translator will never see them and the notes about them will not make sense.

When you are checking the GL translation of the ULT, you must only compare it to the English ULT. Do not refer to any other version of the Bible when checking the ULT. The GL translation of the ULT may not be as smooth and clear as the GL Bible that you are used to, because it is showing the OL translator the forms of the original biblical languages. Please do not try to make the ULT sound like your favorite translation of the Bible in your language.

What Should Be Checked in the ULT?

In addition to the things mentioned in Types of Things to Check in tA, the text needs to be checked in these areas:

  1. Idioms - If there is an idiom in the source ULT, then that same idiom should be in the target ULT. If the idiom does not make sense in the target language, make sure that there is a note that explains its meaning. If there is not a note for it, then write one in the GL tN that explains its meaning.
  2. Figures of Speech - If there is a figure of speech in the source ULT, then that same figure of speech should be in the target ULT. If the figure of speech does not make sense in the target language, make sure that there is a note that explains its meaning. If there is not a note for it, then write one in the GL tN that explains its meaning.
  3. Grammatical Forms - Check to see if the grammatical forms, that is, the order of words in the sentence or the way that the words are arranged, is the same in the target GL ULT as they are in the English source ULT. If the words are arranged differently, ask yourself if they could be arranged the same as the words in the English ULT and still make good sense, or if it is necessary for them to be arranged in a different way in the GL ULT. If they would still make good sense in a way that an Other Language translator would understand, then put them in the same arrangement as in the English. If they are in a different arrangement because that is what makes sense in the target GL, then leave them in the different arrangement.

What Should Not Be Checked in the ULT?

It is not necessary to check the ULT for naturalness with speakers of the GL. The ULT will not be natural in some cases, because it is designed to retain the forms of the biblical languages, as far as the GL allows.

Checking the UST

Note

This module answers the question, “What are the guidelines for checking the UST?”

When checking the UST, remember that the UST does not use figures of speech, idioms, abstract nouns, or grammatical forms that are difficult to translate into many languages. The purpose of the UST is to change all of these problematic grammatical forms into more universal ones to make them easier to translate, and to make the meaning as clear as possible.

When you are checking the GL translation of the UST, you must only compare it to the English UST. Do not refer to any other version of the Bible when checking the UST. The GL translation of the UST may not be as smooth and natural as the GL Bible that you are used to, because it does not use many of the forms of expression that make a language sound natural. These forms of expression are different for every language. So please do not try to make the UST sound like your favorite translation of the Bible in your language.

What Should Be Checked in the UST?

In addition to the things mentioned in Types of Things to Check in tA, the text needs to be checked in these areas:

  1. Sentence length - If you see any long or complex sentences in the GL UST, see how you might break them up into shorter sentences.
  2. Passive voice - If you see this construction in the GL UST, check to see what it was in the English source UST and change it so that it is active.
  3. Abstract Nouns - If you see one of these in the GL UST, check to see what it was in the English source UST and change it back to an action or description word.
  4. Events out of order - Make sure that the events in the Gateway UST are in the order that they occurred. Also make sure that the logical flow of arguments, such as occur in many of the New Testament letters, is in a natural order that makes sense in the GL.
  5. Figures of speech and idioms - Make sure that the GL UST does not contain any figures of speech or idioms. Instead, it should use only plain, clear language.

If you see any of these forms in the English UST, email <help@door43.org> to let them know of the error.

It is also useful to check the UST for clarity with speakers of the GL, but do not confuse clarity with naturalness (see below). You can read a passage from the UST to a speaker of the GL, and ask if the meaning is clear. If they say, “Yes,” that is enough. If they also say, “But I would say it differently,” that is fine. We expect that they would say it differently. But the UST needs to say it in a plain way. As long as the meaning of the GL UST is clear, it is a successful translation.

What Should Not Be Checked in the UST?

It is not necessary to check the UST for naturalness with speakers of the GL. The UST will very often not be completely natural, because it avoids some forms that languages naturally use, such as idioms and figures of speech. The UST avoids these because they are specific to individual languages, and do not translate well from one language to another.

Checking translationNotes

Note

This module answers the question, “What are the guidelines for checking translationNotes?”

When checking tN, remember that tN are very closely tied to the text of the ULT. The purpose of tN is to explain any phrases or sentences in the ULT that are hard to understand or hard to translate.

What Should Be Checked?

In addition to the things mentioned in Types of Things to Check in tA, the text needs to be checked in these areas:

  1. Although the GL tN are a translation of the English tN it is important that the phrase in each note that reproduces the phrase from the ULT is exactly the same as it is in the GL ULT. So you must check the meaning of the note in the English tN and make sure that the GL tN has the same meaning. Then you must also check the wording of the phrase that comes from the GL ULT and make sure that the words are exactly the same.
  2. In the same way, make sure that any quotations of the UST have the exact wording of the GL UST.
  3. Check that the GL tN makes sense with the GL ULT. It is possible that the GL translator made a good translation of the English tN but when the note is read with the new GL ULT, it might not explain the GL ULT in the right way, or it might not make sense with the GL ULT. In that case, you will need to discuss the problem with the translator. Then you will need to decide how to change the note so that it explains the GL ULT in a way that will be helpful to the OL translator.
  4. Check that all references to the UST make sense with the GL UST.
  5. If the GL translator has decided that a note does not apply to the GL ULT and has deleted the note from the GL tN, check to make sure that the note was not needed.
  6. If the GL translator has written a new note, check to make sure that it was needed, and that it makes sense with the GL ULT.

In order to check the tN for naturalness and clarity, you will need to have people read them together with the GL ULT and UST. Then ask them to mark anything that is not clear to them, or that they would say in a different way. Then give this feedback to the translator so that he can make those places clearer and more natural.

Finishing Checking

Note

This module answers the question, “How do I know when I have finished the checking for each level?”

It can be difficult to know when you have sufficiently checked a text for errors or for ways that it could be improved. In a sense, this process is never completely finished, and people continually find ways to improve texts that have been checked already by many people. For example, there are many Bible translations in English that have been checked by many biblical scholars and are considered to be excellent translations. Yet it is possible to find places where they could be made better, and over time, they are continually revised and new versions are published. This is the process that you should expect to happen with these Bible translations, as well.

Checking Evaluation Lists

The following lists can help you to consider whether or not you have checked a GL resource sufficiently.

Level One

Level one checking includes:

  • Initial study of the related materials, including:
    • The guidelines for translation of the specific materials in the Gateway Language Manual
    • The tN
    • The definitions of tW
    • Reading each chapter connected to the translated materials in both ULT and UST
  • Careful comparison with the source text, including:
    • Individual self edit
    • Peer edit
    • Key word check as a team
    • Accuracy check as a team
  • Final editing, including everything learned from the earlier editing sessions, the tN, and the definitions of tW.

Level Two

In addition to the steps listed above for level one, all parts of the resource have been checked by at least 2 respected church leaders, preferably pastors, who are mother-tongue speakers of the target language and bilingual in English. Also, these people are from different denominations and must not have been involved in translating the resource. These people can attest:

  • The Translation conforms to the Statement of Faith (see http://ufw.io/faith/) and Translation Guidelines (see http://ufw.io/guidelines/).
  • The Translation accurately communicates the content of the source document in the target language.
  • The style of the Translation conforms to the guidelines set forth for translation of this resource in the Gateway Language Manual.
  • The translation team has edited the Translation to their satisfaction.

Level Three

For level three, at least 2 more people need to have checked every part of the resource. These people must meet the following criteria: people who were not involved in the translation, were not part of the checking process of level two for that resource, and are bilingual in English. In addition, these people are leaders of different church networks or denominations who are either Bible scholars themselves or who can delegate the level 3 checking to trusted associates who are Bible scholars, able to compare the GL translations with the original biblical languages. They also need to affirm the same statements as in level two.

Additional questions that can help you to evaluate if the translation has been sufficiently checked are in see the tA module Self-Assessment Rubric. Just be aware that the ULT and the UST are not intended to be completely natural in the GL.

See also

tA module Self-Assessment Rubric