Wycliffe Associates noted recently that there is not one complete Bible for the deaf community anywhere in the world.  In fact, out of hundreds of deaf languages globally, it is only the American deaf language that has a complete New Testament, Mission News Network (MNN) reported recently.

Wycliffe engages in translating the Bible into all global languages.  So far 6,848 spoken languages exist globally, and 2,393 still need Bible translations.  This is aside from their latest endeavor for the deaf, 2TheAdvocate said.

Elizabeth Parks, who with her husband Jason are sign language survey coordinators for Wycliffe said, “There are more than 400 distinct sign languages, and they develop separately from the spoken languages around them,” 2TheAdvocate reported.

Parks noted that sign languages have totally different grammar and concepts from the spoken and written language of a country.  She noted, “They are actually dreaming in sign language,” hence, sign is their true language of communication, 2TheAdvocate reported. 

Bruce Smith of Wycliffe said that one cannot presume that because the deaf can see, that they can read subtitles, say, from a television program.  American Sign Language has true distinctions.  Wycliffe wants to do video translations for the various sign languages around the world, MNN reported. 

Wycliffe is working with Deaf OpportunityOutReach (DOOR) International for this project.   Smith said the illiteracy rate is higher among the deaf, especially those from poorer countries.  He estimates the project may take 10 years, MNN reported.

Parks, who has travelled extensively as a missionary, said in some countries the deaf are regularly mistreated, hidden away or beaten.  Parents are ashamed and don’t allow them to leave home, and some serve as slave labor.  Parks expressed hope that part of their work will help these countries to have a better understanding of their deaf family members.

Aside from DVDs Wycliffe and DOOR International hope to try other electronic media as technology develops, such as 3-D animation depending on cost, ease of use, and ability of the animation to portray natural-looking sign language.

Currently, Wycliffe and DOOR are working on completing DOOR’s international headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya; as well as beginning a specific translation project in San Jose, Costa Rica and eventually throughout Latin America.

Wycliffe is also asking for volunteers who have technical and life skills to do work such as constructing roads to get to remote areas, office work or renovate facilities.  In this way, the translators can truly focus on simply translating each language.