The following story was related to me by Wopa Eka, translator of the West Kewa New Testament. It happened, as near as I can tell, sometime in 2010.
Category: Storytelling Items (Page 1 of 3)
Storytelling 6-09–with pictures & text
Use control + click to begin show.
Q: What is Biblical storytelling?
A: It is an oral, rather than written, approach used to communicate God’s message, as recorded in the Scriptures. It is based on the Scriptures, but includes background information and stylistic changes that make it interesting and appealing to various audiences. Often it includes drama as well.
Q: What is “different” about this approach?
A: Storytelling is as old as mankind, so it has been around since the story of God’s creation were first told. However, this approach assumes that when preliterate or largely oral societies hear God’s message, as revealed in the Bible, it is best told and retold in a oral format as well.
It also does not assume that every language group needs a Bible translation, especially small languages that are in danger of becoming moribund or extinct. Depending on various factors, such as literacy and motivation to hear and retell stories in the vernacular, a storytelling approach may be the best starting point.
Storytelling on Lake Tiberius
Background: It is mid-morning on the shore of Lake Galilee. Peter and some of the other disciples have been out fishing. Mark is sitting in one of the spare boats with Jesus, whom he is interviewing.
In recent years language documentation has been a research prize, particularly work on “endangered languages”. In fact an endangered language for linguists seems to be one that will generate a large grant for fieldwork and subsequent publication. The grant bears fruit according to some peer and university backing, as well as some personal credentials. It is of course based upon an extensive proposal that documents the need of a language group. It follows that the languages and people that will have the “advantage” of research are limited by the interests of the researcher and his peers
© 2024 Karl J Franklin
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑