Wycliffe Canada Web Exclusives: Questions Hang Over Africa

Questions Hang Over Africa

Like low-lying rain clouds plying the horizon of an Africa plain, lots of questions hang over the work of sign language Bible translation on the continent, involving SIL, Wycliffe’s partner organization. How big is the job? What role will SIL have? What appropriate personnel and strategies are needed?

Dealing with those and many other uncertainties is the job of Jim Dowsett. As sign language coordinator for SIL’s Africa Area, he currently gives oversight to the effort from Dallas, Texas, until he and his wife Carol permanently move to Nairobi, Kenya, in 2011.

“What is most needed right now is prayer!” says Dowsett, who makes up to three trips a year overseas. “We need prayer for wisdom and discernment in how best to reach millions of Deaf on the African continent.”

Nobody really understands how big the Deaf population is or how many sign languages are used in Africa, a microcosm of the global situation.

While a widely quoted rule-of-thumb suggests that one-tenth of one per cent of any given population are Deaf, Dowsett stresses this figure is based on research in developed countries. A census figure in one of Africa’s most developed nations, South Africa, resulted in a figure seven times higher.

“Therefore, the expectation is that for most of the countries on the continent, the incidence of hearing impairment and the use of sign language will be significantly higher.”

Reality on the Ground
Another common guideline is that each country on the globe has one, or maybe two, major sign languages, with one to three variations or dialects, says Dowsett. However, early indications suggest this guideline may drastically understate sign language differences within Africa’s more than 50 countries. Another issue is to what degree American Sign Language is used in Africa.

Dowsett says sorting out the reality on the ground means sign language survey research must be done all over the continent.

“Over the next decade, we will have a much better understanding of just how big the task is ahead of us,” he says. “We expect that once survey work is completed that we will learn of . . . 150-200 total [sign languages].”

To handle the large survey task in Africa, Dowsett says up to eight personnel will be needed initially. Many are expected to be Deaf Africans serving with DOOR International, whom SIL can train.

So far, Jason Hopkins is one of only a few SIL persons specializing in sign language work who is actually working in Africa. The 40-year-old husband and father of five, who got interested in sign language 16 years ago working in a Kansas Deaf school, is currently focusing on survey.

“I will probably end up doing hands-on [survey] myself, but also having hopefully a team of Deaf Africans helping out as well.”

At present, however, Hopkins is busy laying groundwork.

“A lot of it right now is trying to develop a relationship with the Deaf that are here to figure out what it is that they want to do, what are their goals, and how I can plug in and make a bridge to facilitate that to happen.”

From a Position of Humility
Providing translation consultants for the Bible translation being done by DOOR translators right now is the most immediate personnel need. As DOOR builds its new training centre so it can handle increased growth, more SIL staff will be needed to assist that organization. With Dowsett on-site to oversee staff, SIL will ramp up its sign language emphasis in Africa.

“We have a great deal of experience with language and translation, but the vast majority of it is in the oral/aural mode,” he adds. “What will work best is to combine our strengths with those organizations which already have existing talents and credibility with Deaf communities to accomplish the work ahead of us.”

While a lot of questions remain unanswered, Dowsett, who is hard of hearing and has worn hearing aids for three decades, is certain of one thing—the SIL staff he supervises will need to serve with the right attitude.

“Because of power dynamics, hearing persons cannot go from a position of strength and dominance to ‘help’ Deaf communities,” Dowsett warns. “Instead, they have to follow Christ’s model, and then minister as a servant from a position of humility.”