4 Reasons Why Your Ministry Should Hire a Christian Translator
Language is a complex and powerful tool. It is not simply a collection of words and grammar rules; it is a living, breathing reflection of highly complex cultures and worldviews.
Our words have the power to shape and impact those same cultures and worldviews. Great political speeches and powerful sermons have changed the hearts of individuals and the course of history. Phrases such as, "one small step for man", "I have a dream" or "Ich bin ein Berliner" resonate in the minds of people across the world and continue to generate feelings of hope, excitement, and inspiration several decades since they were first uttered. These words and messages are remembered because of their meaningfulness and relevance for the moment in which they were spoken, yet had they been uttered in a different way, at a different time, or to a different audience they may have been misunderstood or have faded into oblivion.
In a world saturated with information, language continues to have an impact, in part because of the arrangement of words, but also because of how those words are delivered, how they speak directly to hearts and minds of audiences, and because of the specific place and time in which they are received. In short, language cannot be separated from its context, or from the communities and audience with which you want to communicate.
If you have an important message to share, the job of a translator is to understand that message with all the nuances it may contain and communicate it faithfully and appropriately to a specific audience, in a specific place, and at a specific moment.
There is even more at stake in Christian translation. We hope not only that the message stays in the minds of our audience for decades, like the great speeches of history, but we desire for the gospel to have a transformative impact on their entire being with fruit that will last beyond this life.
What are the benefits of hiring a professional Christian translation company?
1. Having someone who understands your message.
The first step to an effective translation is understanding the content. When you hire a Christian translator, you are hiring a specialist.
Translators are usually hired according to three criteria:
The languages they are competent in (Spanish, Korean, or Chinese, for example),
Their understanding of how language works (professional linguistic training), and
Their areas of specialization (legal/medical/literary).
Their proficiency in a specialist area is no less important than their ability to speak the language. For example, the court only uses legal translators. A lawyer may understand how the law works and a translator may understand how language works, but only the legal translator can marry both these aspects, because they understand both the legal system and the specific terminology needed, as well as how to communicate it clearly and effectively for others to understand in that context.
When you hire a Christian translator, you are not only hiring a language professional who understands how to communicate and has undergone years of learning and experience; you are hiring someone who can grasp the important nuances of your faith-based message to communicate it clearly to others.
As a Christian translation company, several ministries have come to us after first going down the route of hiring secular translation companies. Much of our time is spent correcting errors because the translator simply did not understand the elements of the message and the significance of specific words for the communities to whom they are speaking.
With Multitude Languages, you have the bonus of hiring a team, which means each project is carefully read, translated, and edited by multiple linguistic and theological experts.
2. Avoiding confusion in your content.
Consider the translation of Bible verses. A translator without a Christian background might translate a verse independently without referencing established translations. For example, just this month we reviewed another translation company’s work and saw this at play. Rather than using the target language version of Matthew 22:37 that is readily available online, the translator recreated it by writing “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your mind…” instead of “…all your soul…”.
This type of error can be confusing for the reader or listener as a fundamental biblical aspect has been significantly changed in the translated text.
Then there are references to Christian culture, such as books, music, liturgy and well-known ministries with an online presence. Consider this: A secular translator who needs to translate a quote from John Piper may invent their own translation of an excerpt without knowing that “Desiring God” already exists in Spanish; or they may even translate the book title word for word to “Deseando a Dios” not knowing that the actual title in the target language is already established as “Sed de Dios” (Thirst for God). If the reader sees that erroneous footnote and wants to read that book for more information, she won’t be able to find it since the title is inaccurate.
3. Avoiding doctrinal errors.
Basic concepts such as sin, prayer, and faith can have very different meanings when used by people with different worldviews. For the secular translator, the subtleties of how different communities use these words can be difficult to grasp.
A common mistake when translating the verb “to pray” in Spanish is to use “rezar.” Catholic communities tend to use “rezar” to refer to a more liturgical repetition of prayers such as the Apostles’ Creed, “Our Father,” or “Hail Mary.” However, Protestant communities prefer “orar,” which has a much different connotation of an open conversation with our Heavenly Father which includes praise, gratitude, and petitions. This is information that a secular translator often does not have access to, and when they use “rezar,” it not only miscommunicates the preacher's intention, it can also create a strange impression for the Spanish listener to hear a concept that seems out of place.
There are many doctrinal differences between Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches, yet even among Protestants, there are different translation needs depending on denomination. To translate “baptism” in Korean for a Baptist prayer guide, the right term to express submersion must be chosen rather than the “Methodist sprinkle”. This is just one case in point.
The team at Multitude Languages is well-versed in Christian topics and media. Thanks to our biblical knowledge and our extensive network of Christian speakers and organizations, we can make quick connections to present biblical content clearly in virtually any language.
4. Staying culturally sensitive and appropriate to your audience.
In cross-cultural ministry, whether at home or abroad, cultural sensitivity is paramount. A translator who understands the cultural context of the source material and the target audience will navigate the translation process more effectively, ensuring that the translated material is culturally appropriate and sensitive to the needs and beliefs of the audience.
A Christian translator will be invested in your message, partnering with you to handle it carefully and approach your audience sensitively. Important issues for cross-cultural communication include knowing the correct form and dialect to use for your audience. For instance, in Chinese, we continually consult with our partners to choose either Mandarin, Cantonese, Simplified or Traditional.
It is also important to understand the social and educational background of the group to be considered to choose the type of translation they prefer (subtitles or dubbing for example) and the right tone and register of language (formal or informal).
We can even partner with you as you share with us the spiritual condition of your audience. If your audience consists of seekers, new believers, or children, then we will carefully consider the type of language and Bible translations we use to best complete the mission. For example, using a KJV equivalent in the target language may not be the best option. The theologians on our team strive to match the target version to the closest equivalent of the English version you’ve used, ensuring coherence in your message.
These are just four of the many reasons why your ministry should consider hiring a professional Christian translator. Our team at Multitude Languages is passionate about communicating God’s word and biblical media in a way that is accurate, relevant, and impactful.
The process is simple: Just send us a message and we will schedule a brief call with you to discuss your translation needs
