Wycliffe Bible Translators Fact Sheet

Who Is Wycliffe?

Wycliffe is the world's largest Bible translation organization.

Founded in 1942, Wycliffe Bible Translators is an international association of organizations dedicated to making God's Word accessible to all people in the language that speaks to their hearts. This association includes thousands of individuals serving through dozens of organizations that include:

• Wycliffe USA and its subsidiaries: Wycliffe Foundation and The Seed Company

• Wycliffe Canada

• BTL (Bible Translation and Literacy of Kenya)

Wycliffe works in partnership with a variety of organizations worldwide to accomplish its mission. Some of Wycliffe's primary partners include:

• SIL International

• JAARS

• Wycliffe Associates

• The Graduate Institute for Applied Linguistics

• The OneStory Partnership

• Faith Comes By Hearing

What Is Vision 2025?

In 1999, Wycliffe adopted a vision of seeing Bible translations underway in all remaining Bibleless languages that need it by the year 2025. That goal is known within and outside of the organization as "Vision 2025."

 

Why Is Bible Translation Important?

Each language is unique and perfectly suited for the person who uses it, thinks in it and identifies himself with it. Though a secondary national language may be spoken, understanding deep and meaningful concepts comes from the language learned in the family home - the heart language.

Most language communities with a remaining need for translation are oral cultures. These groups may live outside the mainstream, separated by invisible barriers of language and culture. With the creation of a written language - the first step in language development that leads to a printed Bible - these barriers are broken.

The results:

• The Bible can be clearly understood

• People grow spiritually

• Strong, healthy churches grow and reach out to their neighbors

• Entire communities can transform

What Is Happening Worldwide in Bible Translation?

Since its founding, Wycliffe has been involved in more than 721 New Testament and Bible translations, touching more than 80 million people. Still, 193 million people do not have access to Scripture that is understandable or meaningful to them.

• Languages spoken in the world: 6,912 [Source: Ethnologue, 15th edition, 2005]

• Languages currently without any of the Bible: 2,251

• Languages with some or the entire Bible: 2,426 [Source: United Bible Societies UBS 2005]

• Language work in progress: Wycliffe personnel are currently active in 1,415 languages

• Wycliffe-affiliated personnel are currently responsible for more than 70% of all translation projects worldwide

• In 2007, Wycliffe completed the translation of two Bibles, 9 New Testaments, six Luke videos and five Genesis videos

• More than 6,400 people around the world are directly involved in Wycliffe's work, with thousands more supporting the efforts through prayer and financial contributions

Bible Translation Through the Ages

The beginning of Bible translation:

• 1,800 years after Christ was born, the Bible had been translated into only 68 languages.

• In the 19th century, translations increased to only 500.

• In the last century, the number tripled to 1,500 total. Still, only 22% of the language groups in the world had access to God's Word in the language they understand best.

• At the pace at which new Bible translation programs were starting in the 1990s, it would be 2150 before the final project began.

Bible translation today:
Radical time-saving improvements - the results of new technology and improved strategy - have significantly impacted Bible translation and allowed for the simultaneous translation of languages that share a common origin.

• Since 1999, 592 new translation programs have been launched.

• That's the equivalent of one new Bible translation project starting every five days somewhere in the world.

• If the current pace can be maintained, every language on earth will either have a translated Bible or have a translation underway by 2038.

Are There Any New Developments in Bible Translation?

Through the development and implementation of new technologies, the rate at which Wycliffe is able to translate the Bible has been accelerated. New technologies have allowed languages with similar grammatical patterns and common origins to be translated simultaneously, leading, at least in part, to a more efficient use of translation resources.

 

What Languages Remain Untranslated?

Most remaining translations are in unwritten languages found in Central Africa, mainland and Southeast Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region. These groups may live outside the mainstream, separated by invisible barriers of language and culture. With the creation of written language - the first step in Bible translation - these barriers are lowered.

 

Worldwide Impact of Wycliffe's Bible Translation

Some of the world's most recognizable ministries, largest organizations and entire governments depend on the pioneering work of Wycliffe.

• The JESUS Film - Wycliffe's translation efforts have allowed this evangelism tool to be used worldwide. In 2007, Wycliffe was involved in the completion of six translations.

• The United Nations - Language barriers broken by translation have provided literacy tools for some of the world's poorest and most remote nations. Wycliffe's partner SIL is in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and has a formal consultative relationship with UNESCO.

• Faith Comes By Hearing - Nearly 1 billion people worldwide are illiterate and will receive the gospel only in an oral form. Wycliffe provides the scripts for recordings of the Scripture that can be played on inexpensive recorders in the most remote villages of Africa and Asia.

Beyond its ministry impact, Wycliffe's translation work is relied upon by governments and NGOs to address some of the world's most pressing issues including AIDS, Avian flu, regional conflicts and the potential loss of indigenous cultures.

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