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AI Lends a Helping Hand

March 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment

    When Chris talks about the work that he does with technology and how it helps accelerate Bible translation, some people ask if Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used. There are a few of his colleagues who are experts in AI, and they have been researching appropriate ways to use AI in their work. Here is an article by one of these experts, Dr. Daniel Whitenack, who used AI to automatically translate “Wash your hands” in 500+ languages.

TLDR – I used multilingual unsupervised methods to train cross-lingual word embeddings for over 500 languages. These embeddings allowed me to extract components of the phrase “wash your hands” from existing target language documents. I then combined these components to generate something close to the phrase “wash your hands” in 510 languages not currently supported in any public translation platform.

https://datadan.io/blog/wash-your-hands
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Let’s Grow a Library

March 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment

    The About Coronavirus book is just one example of how people are using Bloom, a desktop application that makes it easy to create simple books and translate them into multiple languages. Bloom is designed for new computer users in mind, and it has special features to guide them in simple book making, so people need far less training than alternatives like Word, Publisher, or InDesign. Bloom’s Book Library offers books from around the world for the users to translate into a local language. They can also share books that they have made. Watch the video below to learn more about Bloom!

Why does anyone need Bloom? This video explains the role Bloom software can play in aiding literacy development. It also gives an overview of the key features of Bloom.
Filed Under: Language Software

Wash Your Hands

March 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment

    One of the benefits of Bible translation is that the Bible isn’t the only thing translated into minority languages. Other materials like health information, cultural stories, and trauma healing literature are translated as well. This approach truly impacts every aspect of a person’s life–spiritual, emotional, and physical.
    With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading around the world, there are many language communities who will not hear the same precautions that we are. Read below to see how our organization is trying to help.

COVID-19 doesn’t care what language you speak.
All of us are at risk. But millions of people who speak lesser-known languages don’t have a single resource on COVID-19 yet. The information gap is enormous – and lives are at stake.

“Wash your hands” isn’t enough to combat this pandemic, but it’s already more than some communities are hearing. Below you can learn how to say it in many different languages and countries.

You can also download this About Coronavirus book for kids, with key guidelines translated into several languages. Are you multilingual? You could help us translate the book into more languages.

Spread the word, not the virus.

https://www.ethnologue.com/guides/health
Filed Under: Uncategorized

You Put Our Texts In The Air!

March 21, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Scripture App Builder

    Many users of Scripture App Builder are working in sensitive areas. We intentionally do not track who is installing and using the software to keep users safe. It is so encouraging when we hear stories of how Scripture App Builder is being used to expand access to God’s Word. Please read this story from Africa.

Drew Maust, a Wycliffe member working in central Africa, had the chance to thank God for the good things that He has done. Drew shares with us his wonderful reason for praise:

Since completing their New Testament over a decade ago, the Z* translators have been hard at work tackling the Old Testament book by book. Two years ago I had the pleasure of working with them on Ezra. After finishing my check of Ezra, I showed them how we could make a custom Bible app using their translation.

So we made an app containing their New Testament along with the Old Testament books that were ready to be published. We loaded it onto the only smartphone they had between the three of them and off they went back to their village.

Now, their village is about two days’ journey, tucked away in the mountains, without electricity or phone signal, in a region which is almost like another country. Love for their language is strong there, but it’s generally very difficult to stay in touch with them.

So I almost completely forgot about this app we made until the Z* translators showed up in the capital last year.

Much to my surprise, they approached me, and the first thing they said was, ‘Our whole village thanks you.’

Taken aback, my response was an embarrassed, ‘OK… why?’
‘You put our texts in the air!’
I had to admit (even more embarrassed) that I didn’t know what they were talking about. ‘I’m really sorry, what do you mean?’
‘My son found the app on my phone and has been sharing it around via Bluetooth. Everyone loves it! But there’s just one problem…’

‘Oh no, what’s that?’

‘It’s missing some books!’ He was lamenting that recently completed books weren’t yet available for their digital readership. ‘People want to read Joshua!’ O, that they could have a whole Bible!

This year I look forward to working with the Z* guys on Old Testament books. We’ll put them ‘in the air’ as soon as we can, giving the Scriptures wings to fly.

Facebook Post: Wycliffe Bible Translators UK and Ireland

    With Scripture App Builder, communities can publish early and often. Their village doesn’t have to wait until the whole Bible is translated and a paper book is printed. Updates can be shared in the app as they become available. Isn’t it wonderful when we can thank God for the good things that he has done?

Thank you for partnering with us. Your participation in this work is being multiplied as we pour into others and allow them to flourish.

Man Praying
Filed Under: Mobile