Vernacular Media

People dancing together No culture is purely literate. That is, no culture relies entirely on words in print to pass on information. Other media are used to not only convey information, but also to share values, express emotions, proclaim opinions and discuss ideas.

Music, storytelling, poetry, chants, drama and dance.

Film, photo, podcasts, digital recordings and the internet.

Vernacular media specialists help Wycliffe and national translators identify and use media tools that are culturally appropriate for each language group. Video, audio, radio, filmstrips, drama, puppets and flipcharts are just some of the tools used to communicate God’s life-changing message.

These media tools are not meant to replace printed Scripture in minority language communities where Wycliffe serves any more than a portable media player filled with Scripture-inspired music should replace your copy of the Word. But they do enhance Scripture reading and help encourage literacy development and use of the translated Scriptures.

Interested in working in vernacular media?

Search our Service Opportunities for a sampling of open positions around the world.
Learn about the training we offer for vernacular media.

VMS (Vernacular Media Services, a division of JAARS) exists to enhance and encourage access to Scripture and related materials through usable media that are appropriate for the situation, with a special focus on media that meet the needs of oral communicators. On the JAARS website, you can explore more deeply the world of vernacular media.

Other Wycliffe ministry partner organizations specialize in developing and producing vernacular media. These include Campus Crusade's The JESUS Film Project and Hosanna Ministries' Faith Comes By Hearing.

SCRIPTURE USE BARGAM:

A Story from Papua New Guinea

Print, song and audio recordings reinforce each other and the whole.
Mark & Carol Hepner are Wycliffe translators working with the Bargam people of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Mark & Carol started living and working among the Bargam in July, 1982. The New Testament was dedicated on July 13, 2002.

There are approximately 5,000 Bargam people. Location: Madang Province, north coast of Papua New Guinea.

In Papua New Guinea: recordings, literacy, song

Wycliffe translator Mark Hepner (from the USA) and his Papua New Guinean co-translator, Lazarus Tumuw, had the idea of reading several New Testament Scripture passages in the Bargam language on cassette tape as a reading aid for the New Testament. People who got the New Testament in print could also use the tape, look up the passage being read and follow along in their New Testament so they could see the words as they were hearing them. Mark and Tumuw took turns reading.

Bargam Worship

At the same time, there was an interest in collecting Bargam worship songs from different villages by one of the language committee members. Mark borrowed a mini-disc CD recorder and recorded 11 songs in the village and interspersed them among the New Testament readings on a 90-minute tape which was reproduced by the Non-Print Media Department.

When a one-day "Use Your Bible Course" was held in different villages, the tape was played, and people would look at the words of the songs and sing along with them. They could also read along with or listen to the New Testament readings. Mark says, "The people love the Bargam songs. We even hear folks singing the new songs they have learned around the village, not just in church!"

Worship in Other Villages

The songs on the tapes sparked interest in other villages who also wanted their songs recorded. So, Mark again used the little mini-disc recorder to tape more songs during another village stay. As a result, they have now produced 200 copies of a tokples (talk of the place) song book which contains 36 worship songs which will be used together with 100 copies of the song tape which the Non-Print Media Department also produced.

Now that Mark has seen how much interest the music generates, he thinks that having a musical component in literacy classes would provide a great introduction to reading. People enjoy singing so much; it is a highly motivational tool. By learning the words printed in a book they could learn the song.

Mark says, "We believe these tapes will be used to increase reading fluency as well as encourage the people to use their mother tongue in every aspect of their spiritual lives. Thank you so much!"

Editor's note:

Every audio-recording project like this one, or a video project like the JESUS film, requires people with technical skills. Financial support is also necessary.

Whether audio or video, the initial production work is done in a studio at a central location or in a village location, when a translation team is located in a remote area. With video, the vernacular narration must be dubbed onto either the Luke, JESUS or Acts videos. Post-production work is done at a studio at a central location. To produce enduring, professional-quality work, whether audio or video, people with skills are essential. We offer training!

In Papua New Guinea (PNG) the Non-Print Media Department has completed many such videos and tapes in vernacular languages. In PNG these videos have a potential target audience of approximately 500,000 people. Nearly all of the videos produced thus far have been used extensively. Many have injected new life into language programs, creating fresh interest in the language, literacy and the Scriptures themselves.