Sign Language Bible Translation

Sign Language Bible with note

In 2020 the first ever complete Sign Language Bible was published in American Sign Language. Wycliffe blogged about the milestone here.

The good news is that there is now one full Sign Language Bible... but it is complicated... There are about 389 Sign Languages but still 221 of them around the world are on the Vision 2025 list (potential need to start a Bible translation project). There is certainly much work remaining.

There are ongoing Sign Language Bible translation project in both Nigerian Sign Language and Ghanaian Sign Language... but, again (you guessed it) it's complicated. Progress.Bible still lists four other Sign Languages in Nigeria with a potential need: Hausa Sign Language, Yoruba Sign Language, Ikobun Sign Language and Bura Sign Language. Testing will be needed to determine whether any of these remaining Sign Language communities can understand and use the national Nigerian Sign Language.

Two Sign Languages in Ghana are listed on the Vision 2025 list: Adamorobe Sign Language and Sign Language in Nananbin.

 

Community testing

A few years ago I was able to observe community testing of Nigerian Sign Language Scripture. It was fascinating ... The process goes something like this for each Bible story tested:

A video introduction of the Bible story is played and the group is asked to summarize the content, then a specialized Sign Language translation consultant asked some specific questions starting with: "Is this Nigerian Sign Language and do you understand it?" Yes, everyone responds. He then breaks the video into smaller chunks and plays each followed by more summaries and Q&A on comprehension, specific concepts and terms… at one point, they discuss the key term "Apostle" vs "Follower"… and the consultant sees a difference and a way to improve the translation… Then they video record someone signing the improved translation terms to take back to the translation team.

I will end here with a short story from Ghana that I am re-blogging from Wycliffe:

 As a high school student in Ghana, Emmanuel began hanging around the wrong people, spending most of his time getting high. He eventually started working for dangerous people selling drugs in the area.

Emmanuel’s life was headed down a dark and perilous path — until the moment everything changed.

Emmanuel is deaf and learned about some videos in Ghanaian Sign Language: the one language he clearly understood. He had never seen videos in his language and was curious what they were about.

Those videos were translated Scripture and, as Emmanuel watched, he understood the gospel message and accepted Christ!

“If I hadn’t received God’s Word in this language,” signed Emmanuel, “I would’ve continued working with the drug lord and most likely would’ve been killed.”

God used Scripture — translated with the support of partners like you — to bring Emmanuel from darkness to light. Many more people in the Deaf community in Ghana need God’s Word in a language and format they clearly comprehend.

The vast majority of Deaf Ghanaians have never had the gospel explained to them in a way they understand. Local churches have struggled to communicate effectively with the Deaf community and, as a result, the Deaf often feel ostracized and isolated.

But God’s Word is for everyone in Ghana.