Pacific  

Culture profoundly affects the way languages develop. The Pacific, sometimes called Oceania*, has some interesting examples. In many Western cultures, the heart is the seat of emotion. In one community in French Polynesia, however, the seat of emotions is considered the liver. Consider this twist on an old Sunday school song—“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my liver!”  

Culture and Scripture Translation

Culture also plays an important a part in creating meaningful Scripture translations. Using culturally relevant terms and expressions helps to capture the meaning of each passage of Scripture. So when Jesus says He is the bread of life in John 6:35, He is using the metaphor of a basic, common, staple food. In Papua New Guinea bread is uncommon, and sweet potatoes are by far the most basic, staple food. So, in many of these translations Jesus says that He is the sweet potato of life.  

Language Multiplication  

With more than 820 living languages, Papua New Guinea has the greatest density of languages of any one country in the world. Geographical isolation and factions between cultures caused the multiplication of languages in this area. It’s as if every town has its own unique language and culture different from neighboring towns. This density of languages has some benefits. It makes a cluster approach to translation possible in many areas. With a cluster approach, several translations (a cluster) are done at one time by a team of translators.

Usually one or two Wycliffe linguists train and facilitate local people who do the actual translation work. High density also means that there may be similarities between neighboring languages. Computer programs like Adapt It! can create rough drafts of Scripture translation between related languages making God’s Word available more quickly to more people. 

Some History  

Bible translation in the Pacific began in the 1800s. The Gospel of Luke was completed in Tahitian, a language of Tahiti, by 1818. Since then, more than 200 New Testaments have been completed in the Pacific area. About 330 more Scripture translations are currently in progress. 

*The Pacific area, sometimes called Oceania, consists of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, thousands of coral reefs and volcanic islands of the South Pacific Ocean. These volcanic islands include the Melanesia and Polynesia groups of Micronesia—a widely scattered group of islands that run along the northern and southern edges of the Equator.