Intelligible Words

Denesuline Language Bible Translation — “Unless you speak with intelligible words … you will just be speaking into the air”

Most Denesuline (Chipewyan) people who live in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and in the Northwest Territories can use the English language to meet their basic daily needs. In fact, in some communities the Native language is hardly used at all.

But that does not mean that a visitor can expect to be perfectly understood! Some English words are used differently in some of these isolated communities. For instance, for me, a warehouse is a big building used to store commercial goods. But for them it might mean a small storage shed in back of the house.

I remember an incident about 20 years ago when I was attempting to understand a man in Black Lake (SK) who was saying, “I you pay,” along with some other words and many hand gestures. Finally, with the help of someone else, I was able to understand that he was wanting me to take him to the airport in Stony Rapids and he would pay me. (The word order in the Dene language is subject, then object, then verb.)

Many Dene people would find it difficult to appreciate a pun or a joke in English because of the nuances of the language. Accurately communicating God’s message to people is far more important than having them be able to understand our jokes. Yet how easy it is to assume that, since we can talk and joke around with them a bit in English — about the weather and about fishing — we can also expect them to always adequately understand us. Our mandate is to be communicating God’s gracious offer to forgive us our sin and indwell us by the Holy Spirit if we have faith in the redemptive work of Christ.

On the day of Pentecost, what was it that caused the God-fearing Jews from other nations staying in Jerusalem to gather and be so bewildered? “Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? … we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!'” (Acts 2:7,8,11b; NIV).

Though they had moved away from the place of their birth and now used a different language, hearing the “unlearned” disciples communicate spiritual truth to them in their Native language made a deep impression on them.

Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians gives us a powerful reason to take the time to be able to communicate God’s message to people in their heart language:

“Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in [a language you can’t understand], what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some [relevant message in a language you can understand]? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

“So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you … but … I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a [language that will not be understood]” (1 Cor. 14:6-12a,19; NIV — adaptations in brackets are mine).

Though the Gospel of Mark was published in Dene several years ago, that is just a small portion of God’s message to them. Gilbert Bekkatla and I are currently completing translation of the Book of Genesis in order to help give its foundational truths about God and His desire to have a relationship with people.

There are great challenges in trying to bring the message of Genesis to Dene people in such a way that it will really speak to their heart. Although there are many similarities in their culture to that of the patriarchs (for instance, living in tents), there are great differences, too. (For the most part, they have no experience in keeping grazing animals.)

The Dene language is very difficult for an English-speaker to learn. Aside from its many unusual sounds (including nasals, tones and clicks), Dene is very specific in areas where English is not (you must indicate whether a brother is older or younger) and sometimes very unspecific where English is specific (there is no distinction in the third person between he, she, or it).

The process of searching for the right Dene words forces us to study the text more closely than one normally would. We need to know the context, the cultural background, and some specific information about words in the original language. This helps us to have a better understanding of God’s Word personally. As a result, we have an increasing burden to pass that message on to the Dene people.

The privilege of translating God’s Word carries with it a very great responsibility. A slight mistake in communicating a concept can easily lead to heresy. Think of how important the concept of grace is in relation to the Gospel. Right now, we do not have a word that adequately communicates that concept without explanation.

Would you please pray for us to be able to get the translation “right” the first time? Also, we need other Dene Christians to get involved in the translation process to assure accuracy.

In Nehemiah 8, God’s message had a deep impact on the people as Ezra read it, and those helping him translated it into the language they used. Please pray with us that God will prepare the Dene people to receive and understand His Word.

Adapted from our Northern Lights magazine (Issue #481). Note: some of the locations and involvements of our missionaries may have changed since the original publishing of this article.