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My recent trip to Namibia
During June this year I visited Namibia to train Hendrik van Zyl from Degnos Bible School on how to record the Scriptures they've been translating orally. Yes, you understood correctly. This is about Scriptures being translated orally. Hendrik is responsible for one of the four San language clusters that spread over Botswana and Namibia. He is responsible for the translation and recording of the Bible in three Namibian languages: Ju/'hoan, !Kung, Mangetti Dune (sometimes spelled !Xun, Mangetti Dune) and Hai//om.
I've been investigating different ways to come up with quality recordings that meet the necessary requirements to ensure safe long term storage and ongoing processing.
I equipped Hendrik with a better microphone, a USB Pre 2 audio interface (pre amplifier) and a set of good quality headphones.
I showed him all the correct settings on his computer and the ideal levels to record at (between -20 and -12 decibels on the VU meter of the preamp).
We first listened back to all the records he had done so far – with his own equipment. We then decided that everything had to be re-recorded. We completed final recordings of Genesis 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11 and 22. These chapters have been consultant-checked already. I've completed the editing and programming on these chapters too and the first two chapters have been uploaded on our 5fish.mobi platform for free downloading. Our feedback so far has been very good and I'm currently uploading all the finished chapters.
We recorded several Scripture portions from the New Testament, but I'm waiting for the rest of the respective chapters before uploading onto the platform. We also recorded GRN's Good News audiovisual program in Ju/'hoan. This recording still have to be consultant-checked.
We also managed to record four chapters of Genesis in !Kung, Mangetti Dune. I'm about to start editing these soon, but I sent Genesis 1 back to the field for another field check.
ABOVE: Hendrik van Zyl from Degnos in Namibia checking the correctness of an orally translated Scripture portion. He uses at least two translations in Afrikaans, the 2nd language of the !Kung people. Hendrik has the para text loaded on his laptop necessary for more accurate checking. A translation consultant will do a back translation with the speakers to check what's been recorded again.
ABOVE RIGHT: Recordings the !Kung, Mangetti Dune language. One mother tongue speaker also follows one of the source scripts used to translate from.
ABOVE: Mother tongue speaker Gerrie in front of the AKG C535 EB condenser microphone, designed to record speech. This mic responds well to most types of voices.
ABOVE: In the foreground the USBPre2 audio interface. It enhances the audio before it is captured by the recording software. Hendrik uses Audacity. An even better device to use these days, is the Mixpre-3 – cheaper and more versatile.
Hendrik hopes to continue the rest of the recording work he's responsible for. He will do the rough cut-and-paste editing himself. Then he will send me his recordings per email. I'll edit and process everything before uploading the audio for download in the field.
These small translation teams persevere under very difficult circumstances and they need our prayers and spiritual covering on a daily basis.
The very first Ju/'hoan Biblce content can already be downloaded from http://5fish.mobi/na/11202?language=Ju'hoan.
Remember, you can download the Message of the Bible in the language of your choice by clicking here using your smartphone.
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In Hungary on furlough
Riaan and Emese have been assigned to 3 months of furlough in Hungary, where they're spending time with supporters, friends, family, visit churches to share about the work they're involved in.
Riaan is surprised how well GRN materials are received there. On the above picture GRN material was listened to on Riaan's laptop during a Baptist event one weekend where he and Emese put up a display.
On the photo below the children listen to what the Naro language of Botswana sounds like. Riaan also pre-loaded the Good News audiovisual program on a Kulumi Mini player. They could also listen to the Hungarian New Testament on Megavoice's Envoy player. Riaan said afterwards, "Some of them wouldn't stop listening."
Pray for the Ferreiras as they make the work of GRN known while on home assignment. They hope to return to SA early November where they'll continue with GRN work on a part time basis.
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