Life In Translation
24 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago -The Life in Translation Podcast is a window into my life as a missionary linguist, as I explore topics related to missions, Bible translation, and whatever else I may be thinking about at the moment. **Due to security concerns, my name does not occur in this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily reflective of any educational institution or missions organization. All views and opinions are my own. Thanks to Ryan Penney for the intro and outro music.**
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Episodes
An Attempt at Explaining my Thesis
September 24, 2021 18:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBHey y'all! This (overdue) episode is my attempt at explaining it lay terms what my thesis is about. This description is short because, well, I gotta get back to working on my thesis and things. Hope you enjoy! Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
A Trip to Mexico and Why We Pray
June 13, 2021 15:00 - 11 minutes - 7.75 MBIn this episode I talk about a recent conference/orientation event I attended in Dallas, my upcoming trip to Mexico, and some things I've been considering about prayer. (Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, Revelation 15:3-4) To contact me or receive updates, click here. Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
Elijah, Elisha, and Jesus
May 22, 2021 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBHey! In this episode, I talk about some of the things that struck me as I studied 1 Kings 17, and how the significance of this passage plays out other places in the Bible (particularly in Jesus' life). This is just one of the many stories that are blowing my mind as I increasingly understand the inter-connectedness of Scripture. God bless! Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
Bible Translation Issues: Formal and Dynamic Equivalence Philosophies
April 13, 2021 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBIn this episode, I discuss the two biggest philosophies in the Bible Translation discussion, the philosophies of Formal Equivalence and Dynamic Equivalence, and a few strengths and weaknesses of each. Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
Arabian Nights, German Words, and English Bible Translations
February 22, 2021 23:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBHey! Things are thawing here in Houston, and I decided to get a podcast out. This week I discuss Skopostheorie (That's the German word), how Skopostheorie would apply to translating folk stories (That's the Arabian Nights), and how it sort of reframes the Bible Translation debates (And that's the English Bible Translations). Enjoy! If you would like to help raise funds for an Alumnus of my School who lost their house in the winter storm, you can do so here. Thanks! Support the show (http...
Where to put...the...pause: Reading with the Masoretes
February 04, 2021 19:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBI finally found some time in my study schedule to talk a little bit about Hebrew accent and cantillation marks, and how we can use them to get some hints for how to read the Bible. I also mention some of the need to pray for that nation of Burma right now in the light of the recent coup de-etat. To contact me, click here. Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
Bible Reading and the Most Popular Podcast (Not This One, Big Surprise)
January 14, 2021 16:00 - 12 minutes - 8.94 MBWith the New Year, a lot of people are beginning new Bible reading plans. In this episode, I share the general Bible reading plan that I have found to be most helpful in my own life, as well as talk about the need to discipline and cultivate our attitude towards Scripture. To contact me, click here. Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
Looking Forward to the New Year
January 07, 2021 16:00 - 11 minutes - 8.2 MBHey! This week I talk a little about what to expect in the upcoming semester and year, between finishing school, and my next steps after that. Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
The Lord "Is" Come, "Mele Kalikimaka," & Linguistics in Christmas Songs
December 17, 2020 18:00 - 12 minutes - 8.89 MBIt's Christmas break and the Semester is done! This week I talk about a few of the linguistics questions that have caused me to lose sleep as I sing and or hear Christmas carols. To contact me, click here. Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
A Story from Greece
December 10, 2020 14:00 - 14 minutes - 9.8 MBToday I don't talk at all about language, or Hebrew (Gasp!). Instead, I tell a story about a woman I met in Greece, one of the stories that I think about often, and that encourages me not to settle for a comfortable life when it would be easy. That's it. That's the description. Contact: https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/ Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
Firm In Faith, Or Not Firm At All (Isaiah 7:9)
December 03, 2020 15:00 - 11 minutes - 7.83 MBHey y'all, In this episode, I talk about how I've been studying the word אמן in Hebrew, and some instances how it can be tricky to translate. Then I discuss a bit about the life, death, and legacy of John Allen Chau, a missionary killed two years-ago attempting to reach the Sentinelese with the Gospel. Here's the article, by Pastor Garrett Kell, about John Chau: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-god-might-do-with-satans-arrows Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpres...
Bible Translation in Indonesia and Mexico: Special Episode with Ricky and Seth
November 30, 2020 09:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBIn this episode, I interview Seth and Ricky, a couple of my friends from school, about the Bible Translation projects they are currently working on in Indonesia and Mexico. We discuss what makes their respective projects unique, some of the difficulties in translating the Bible within their specific community, and how reading and discussing the Bible in a different culture has helped enhance their understanding of God's Word. To contact me with questions, comments, or funny puns, click her...
Tis I, the Little Chinese Goat!
November 14, 2020 13:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBIn this episode, I discuss a project I'm working on for my Discourse Analysis class, where we analyze large sections of text to better understand some of the broader features used in different types of stories, writings, or speech across languages. Today I read the Afghan folk story of Buzaki Chini (The Little Chinese Goat), then talk about some of the translation issues I encountered working on the project, and discuss how similar translation difficulties come up in the Bible. Link to the ...
The Paris Attacks, and How Christians Should View Islamic Extremism
October 31, 2020 20:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBHey! In this episode I spend a fair amount of time talking about the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, and more broadly how Christians should respond to Islamic Extremism. While what I talk about is definitely not comprehensive, I particularly want to address the fear many Christian feel when seeing events like this on the News. Should Christians be afraid of Muslims extremism? No. Why not? Not just because most Muslims denounce such attacks, but most importantly because Jesus promises ...
Be The Ploughboy: Getting to Know God's Word
October 15, 2020 23:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBThis week I talk some about a conference I attended remotely, and (not surprisingly) about how Hebrew is coming. From there I talk a bit about William Tyndale and his famous statement that he wanted to make even ploughboys know more about the Bible than the educated Bible scholars of his day, so I lay out a few principles for reading and getting the most out of the Bible. For resources on learning to study the Bible and learning to follow its thoughts, I highly recommend this video series b...
How Many Heavens Are There? Plurals and Genesis 1:1-3
October 02, 2020 22:00 - 27 minutes - 18.7 MBHow many Heavens did God make? How many waters did the Spirit hover over? Why can't we say "two fishes" In English? In this episode I talk some about about a homework assignment I've been working on, the surprisingly complex questions that can arise because of singular and plural (and dual) nouns in different languages, and how that affects translation. To help support my education and missionwork:https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/ Support the show (https://lifeintransl...
Pious Work and Perilous Presumption: The Story of Jerome
September 17, 2020 20:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBIn this episode I talk a little about what it is like to start Hebrew studies again, and also give an update on the goings on among the refugees in Greece. Then I switch to talking about one of the first major Bible Translations, the Vulgate, and how the issues which Jerome encountered are very similar in many ways to the issues surrounding modern Bible Translation. If you would like to give to support the work in Greece, you can do so here. Quotes from Luther are lightly edited from the t...
Hoods, Handcuffs, and Hebrew Paradigms: Why is Missions Worth It?
September 03, 2020 03:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBIn this episode, I talk a little about a family reunion I had in the Smokey Mountains, and also talk more in-depth about a security training course I participated in. I focus specifically on why it is still important to send missionaries to dangerous parts or persecuted parts of the world, and how that call is not just a duty but a privilege. Less educational or nerdy of an episode maybe, but it answers some important "why" questions that confront missionaries all the time. And I mention He...
Headin' to the Mountains, and Some Thoughts on John 1
July 31, 2020 22:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBIn this episode I talk a little about a family vacation I am preparing to take, and getting ready for security training. I also explore a project my sister is working on with the Latin text of John 1, and discuss what comes to a linguist's mind when they look at the text of a language they aren't super familiar with. This way I sneak in a little introduction to some of the major branches of linguistics, like phonetics & phonology, grammar, discourse, and sociolinguistics, just so that you kn...
Heading' to the Mountains, and Some Thoughts on John 1
July 31, 2020 22:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBIn this episode I talk a little about a family vacation I am preparing to take, and getting ready for security training. I also explore a project my sister is working on with the Latin text of John 1, and discuss what comes to a linguist's mind when they look at the text of a language they aren't super familiar with. This way I sneak in a little introduction to some of the major branches of linguistics, like phonetics & phonology, grammar, discourse, and sociolinguistics, just so that you kn...
Introduction to Bible Translation
July 31, 2020 17:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBWhat is Bible Translation? Why is it that 2,000 years after the Bible was written, some languages still don't have it? How much work remains to be done and why isn't it just as simple as plugging the text into Google Translate? In this episode I discuss the current situation of Bible Translation around the world, some of the challenges inherent to the project, and give an overview of what it would take to get even an oversimplified, idealized project from start to finish. Scripture Access ...
Introduction Part 2: Bible Translation
July 31, 2020 17:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBWhat is Bible Translation? Why is it that 2,000 years after the Bible was written, some languages still don't have it? How much work remains to be done and why isn't it just as simple as plugging the text into Google Translate? In this episode I discuss the current situation of Bible Translation around the world, some of the challenges inherent to the project, and give an overview of what it would take to get even an oversimplified, idealized project from start to finish. Scripture Access ...
Introduction to Life in Translation
July 27, 2020 01:00 - 13 minutes - 9.24 MBIn this episode, I introduce myself and give the background of the Life in Translation podcast. To contact me, get email updates, or support the work I am a part of, you get to my blog here. Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)
Introduction Part 1: Life in Translation Podcast
July 27, 2020 01:00 - 13 minutes - 9.24 MBIn this episode, I introduce myself and give the background of the Life in Translation podcast. To contact me, get email updates, or support the work I am a part of, you get to my blog here. Support the show (https://lifeintranslationblog.wordpress.com/support/)