austraLasia

2nd EAO Workshop of Salesian Translators is coming soon

EAO, 3 May 2019 -- Don Bosco does speak many languages. The ANS Youtube Channel yesterday uploaded the 41st language of the 2019 Strenna of the Rector Major - Urdu (editor Fr Jacob Irrruppakkattu, SDB - SC sector, Rome). Thanks to the large number of Salesian translators - Salesians SDB, FMA sisters or many Lay mission partners the successor of Don Bosco is able to address the Salesian Family members more closely in all continents. At present you will find the 2019 Strenna in the following EAO 13 language versions: Cebuano, Chinese (traditional), Chinese (simplified), Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Mongolian, Myanmar (Burmese), Samoan, Tetum, Thai, Vietnamese and Urdu, and English.

Usually, we don't pay much attention to those who spend a lot of time, patience and energy for the daily translations of Salesian news, formation and other materials. Indeed without the translators, especially in our EAO region, the gift of Don Bosco's Charism would be not spread at all. We appreciate the zeal, professionalism and patient, mostly daily commitment to this special mission. Most of our experienced Salesian translators are seniors, but we are also glad to see some young confreres being involved in this special mission.

Five years after the first (historical) EAO Salesian Translators Workshop in Vietnam (October 2014), we are heading towards the second Translators Workshop in our region - next August in Myanmar. So far, 22 particiipants are registered - 16 SDB, 2 FMA, 3 Salesian Cooperators and one lay misision partner. But the event participation is open to all Salesian Family members. Probably also some Caritas Sisters of Jesus will join this event as well.

This Salesian Translators Workshop aims in overall terms, to produce a set of guidelines which will hopefully come together as three separate sections of a manual: (1) Translation – what makes a good Salesian translation: clear, natural, accurate, true to the charism, (2) Process: teamwork and focus on quality translation; decision-makers; aids; technical aspects; publishing, (3) Checking: team level, wider community level, approval level.

The whole workshop preparation process is starting with a Survey based on the conclusions of the first Workshop (2014) - with deadline of May 24. We expect that still some more Salesian Family member and SDB provinces will register their translators or those who are being trained for this important mission. All basic materials are available on the Boscolink website.