BotswanaLanguage Exploration Program
Support Botswana’s summit success, ongoing training for translators, and efforts to update vital Scripture databases.
Bible Translation
Country
- Botswana
Region
- Southern Africa
Language Population
72,600
Proper program planning takes time
Language exploration uses appreciative inquiry – listening to the communities’ unique Scripture needs. This approach takes time but leads to greater openness and acceptance of God’s Word.
Coordinating data & Insights is Key
Translation teams rely on updated databases to help answers questions such as: Is this a good project? Are there other people working on it? What is the status of the language? These efforts engage the community in dialogue.
Your financial gifts and prayers equip ministry leaders in Botswana to host the annual Southern Africa Bible Translation Summit. The annual summit was established in 2023.
Program Goals
- Mobilize, equip, and empower translation teams.
- Update Ethnologue, ProgressBible, etc. with Botswanan language data.
- Conduct longitudinal study on language use in Botswana, based on work from Hasselbring and Cook.
- Collect all-access goals target language data to accurately target and serve those language groups.
Botswana Language Exploration Program Plan
Step 1
Hold stakeholder meetings in language areas to encourage local ownership.
Step 2
Provide deeper training for both new and veteran translators.
Step 3
Update global Bible translation databases with language information from Botswana.ui, Ts’ ixa, Cua.
Meet the Local Team
Rev. Carl and Kelsey Grulke
Rev. Carl and Kelsey Grulke have been missionaries with Lutheran Bible Translators since 2016. They share a love for the Word of God and for helping it come alive in the hearts of those who hear the Good News.
Partner Organizations
Honoring the Language
Six current languages of focus: Chiikuhane, Tjhetswapong, Birwa, Timbukushu, !Xoon, G//ana, and G/.
Program Progress
The first ever Southern Africa Bible Translation Summit was held in 2023 and had several productive outcomes.
- Two opportunities were identified to work in languages that cross the Botswana and Namibia borders. Research and information gathering is underway.
- Connections made will provide veteran translators with training and knowledge to serve other language communities with future projects.
The 2024 Summit was held in June. Read the story.
