Linguistic Computing
The invention of the computer has greatly increased the pace of Bible translation. While software isn’t able to replace the language analysis work that translators perform, it can greatly assist translators in a number of ways, including storing, sorting, comparing and preparing data for publication. This allows translators to focus on the main challenges, while allowing the computer to handle much of the tedious and repetitive tasks once associated with their work.
Wycliffe’s affiliate organization, SIL, has developed over 60 pieces of software to help translation and linguistic fieldworkers. See the examples below. Many are available for free download. Around the world, people involved in doing Bible translation are using these extraordinary tools.
Interested in working in linguistic computing?
It’s complicated stuff (linguistics and technology), but here are a few examples with some fairly non-technical descriptions to give you an idea of the impact of this developmental work:
Adapt It
Adapt It is a software package for translating related languages. The user(s) must know both languages being engaged. Because this process doesn’t require linguistic analysis, individuals who have very little linguistic training can use Adapt It. Read more about this software.
CARLA
CARLA stands for Computer-Assisted Related Language Adaptation. This program converts text in one language to another related language using rules that are based on the parsing (pulling apart) of the original data. It also can be used to check for spelling errors. A larger version of the original CARLA is CarlaStudio—a suite of integrated software.
Translator's Workplace
Translator's Workplace is a collection of the primary reference materials that Bible translators use. It is a joint project between SIL and the United Bible Societies.
Shoebox
Shoebox is a computer program that helps field linguists and anthropologists bring together various kinds of text data: lexical, cultural, grammatical, etc. It has flexible options for sorting, selecting and displaying data. It is especially useful for helping researchers build a dictionary. A new and improved version of Shoebox is available called Toolbox.
Paratext
Paratext and related tools are a collection of Bible translation software programs developed by the United Bible Societies. These tools allow you to input, edit and check a translation of the Scriptures, based on the original Greek and Hebrew texts.
NRSI
NRSI (Non-Roman Script Initiative) is not a computer program, per se, but rather a research and development team within SIL International. Its mission is to provide guidance, information, research and development for SIL and its partners. It facilitates the use of non-Roman and complex scripts in linguistic study, translation, literacy and publishing.
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Wycliffe offers many other opportunities for using your Information Technology skills in support of Bible translation.