At Universidad Ricardo Palma in Lima, Peru, teachers and students in one small course are hoping to make a huge impact on entire language groups throughout Latin America and the rest of the world. The International Course of Linguistics, Translation and Literacy (CILTA), helps prepare Latin Americans for work in Bible translation, linguistics, and literacy.
Luis Cervantes, a Quechua pastor from the highlands of South Peru, studied at CILTA to prepare himself for a Bible translation project in his home area. Working with SIL linguist Dave Coombs, Cervantes is helping adapt another translation for more than 260,000 of his people who speak the Eastern Apurímac dialect.
"The translation of the Scriptures is going to have a big impact," says Cervantes. "I wanted to get further training to be a part of that."
Launched in 2003 through the efforts of Wycliffe Bible Translators, its
partner organization SIL International and COMIBAM (a Latin American consortium
of churches and missions), the one-year CILTA program provides a full schedule
of courses in linguistics.
Most students arrive at CILTA having already completed prerequisite courses
in their home countries. Steve Marlett, SIL's training coordinator for the
Americas Area, says CILTA provides the remaining courses they need—in
Spanish—to get involved in Bible translation, literacy and other language-related
activities.
"If they've completed all the other training, they'll be able to get
an assignment anywhere. . . without having to think about attending [SIL
courses in] England, Canada or the United States."
The university grants students with completed undergraduate studies a diploma
or postgraduate recognition, and those who only have some university will
earn a certificate.
International Flavour
In 2005, CILTA drew 10 students from Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Peru—and even Finland.
"I think they're all here because of their interest in Bible translation
or literacy," says Marlett.
Sisters Carolina and Sylvia Zelaya from El Salvador studied at CILTA after
completing prerequisite courses in their home country.
"We just loved it," Sylvia says. "We want to serve God
wherever He decides. If He gave me this ability. . . I have to use it."
After graduation, they plan to go back to El Salvador to help teach the
prerequisite courses for a couple of years. Following that they want to
become more directly involved in Bible translation.
The sisters and their classmates can also help direct others to CILTA.
Student enrolment needs to grow to have the program reach its objectives.
Furthermore, Latin Americans need to be convinced they have a role in
the work of Bible translation, says Marlett.
"We know there's a lot of interest out there in Latin America,"
Marlett says. "The church is growing, there's a growing sensitivity
to the needs of minority language groups. . . and a growing interest in
missions.
"So we want to get the word out that [CILTA offers] first-rate training
in linguistics—and it happens to be doing it in Spanish." |
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