English Bible for the Deaf

The Bible Society of South Africa recently began a new translation project for a very special group, English-speaking deaf people. It is hoped that when this Bible is finished, it will make the Word more accessible to deaf people not only in South Africa, but in the rest of Africa as well.

This translation, in deaf-oriented English, is aimed especially at people who were born deaf and those who use Sign Language. Because people learn spoken language primarily through imitation and verbal communication, people who are born deaf have specific language and reading needs.

For most deaf people, Sign Language is their mother tongue and they would no doubt prefer a visual Bible in the Sign Language they understand. Apart from the fact that a visual Bible would be an exceedingly expensive project, there is not one Sign Language used by everyone. In South Africa alone, 12 different Sign Languages have been documented with at least a further 150 in Africa. Another problem is that the Bible text does not always lend itself to the use of Sign Language.  It is therefore difficult to make the complete text accessible to the Deaf through the visual medium.

Many schools for the Deaf in South Africa and Africa use English as the medium of instruction, but unfortunately the existing Bible translations are difficult for most deaf people to understand and this can easily cause confusion. Research shows that the reading proficiency of most deaf adults in South Africa is comparable to that of 8 to 10 year-old hearing children. Only a small percentage of deaf learners ever complete Grade 12.

This Bible then will be translated so that the majority of deaf people who receive their education in English will understand it. A limited vocabulary as well as many footnotes and illustrations will be used to explain certain concepts in the text.

Some R800 000 is needed in the coming year for this project to continue. Make a contribution and help make the Bible more accessible for the English Deaf.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Bible Society and its activities ORDER your free copy of THE SOWER today.