Converting printed text to script for audio recordings
Willis Ott, Oral Translation Consultant, Storying and Orality, SIL
(The author carries the full responsibility for the views expressed.)
Christians have always considered the oral presentation of truth as valid and necessary. Alongside of that, they have faithfully preserved the Scriptures in writing in order to maintain a standard to which they might compare the oral communication. That preservation was arduous, expensive and dangerous at times. With the invention of movable type, Christians focused their respect for the Scriptures on printed Bibles and printed translations, assuming that everyone would want to read the Scriptures and that eventually everyone would learn to read. From that assumption, Christians have developed vast organizations for translating and distributing New Testaments and Bibles. We have developed new techniques for learning languages, for creating alphabets that are unique for each language. With that, we have developed effective literacy programs for each language.
People generally agree that any version of the Scriptures should be tailored to the learning style of the people. We insist that such tailoring involves carefully following the principles of communication. When a team has a printed version of the Scriptures and they wish to present their translation in audio media, we recommend that they should review the digital text and oralize it to help the oral learners.
Some people might be alarmed that an audio version of the Scriptures might be different from the printed version. They fear that any modification will confuse someone. It is important that such persons understand that the oral learners are an entirely different audience from the few who can read. Even those who are literate in a national or state language are oral learners in their core language.
Whenever a translation team has recognized that only a few people will ever read a printed translation and they desire to make the message of the Christian Scriptures available to the majority of their language group, this set of helps will facilitate their creating an effective script for audio recording.
We assume that the printed translation is accurate and natural. These qualities are essential.
We assume that no more than ten years has passed since the final polishing of the text was completed. If more than ten years have passed, including the publishing time, the team should test the idioms and terminology with people of the present generation of listeners. (We are developing a guide for testing the translation with today’s generation.)
Before a team begins preparing their scripts, we recommend that they decide to apply deeply the oralization to the first passages. We especially recommend that they oralize thoroughly “God created all things”, “Why a married man and woman should stay together” and “Why most people will never live again”.
After they receive and evaluate the reports from the listeners of the first recordings, they might continue applying the oralization at the same depth. Oralizing a printed text is much work, but the increase in effectiveness in helping the listeners learn is very rewarding.
Guides for deeply oralizing “God created all things”
Guides for deeply oralizing “Why a married man and woman should stay together”
Guides for deeply oralizing
“Why most people will never live again”
Guides for deeply oralizing
“Vital truths—A clear telling of the Christian worldview”
If the team tires of the task of oralizing the printed texts, we offer a moderate set of oralization.
Guides (soon to be available) for moderate oralizing
“Vital truths—A clear telling of the Christian worldview”
