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TEXT APPEAL: CHOOSING SCRIPTURE MEDIA FOR THE KWASIO PEOPLE OF CAMEROON A THESIS-PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY IN BIBLE TRANSLATION BY MICHAEL ROBERT AYOTTE MAY 2016 Copyright © 2016 by Michael Robert Ayotte. All Rights Reserved. This doctoral thesis-project is dedicated to my parents, Henri and Joanne Ayotte, who instilled in me a love for reading and learning, always encouraging me to educate myself. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20b (NIV) The Scriptures nearly always do their work of evangelism in conjunction with the oral witness of Christians. Wayne Dye The Bible Translation Strategy: An Analysis of Its Spiritual Impact CONTENTS List of Tables .................................................................................................................. x Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... xi List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................... xii Abstract ....................................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1. Kwasio Scripture Engagement: Problem and Setting ................................. 1 A. The Issue—Bible Translation and Scripture Use .............................................. 1 Introduction to the Problem ................................................................................. 1 Scripture Engagement .......................................................................................... 9 Context of the Thesis-Project ............................................................................. 10 The Materials Developed & Produced ................................................................ 12 B. The Research Question--Thesis ...................................................................... 13 What We Expect to See Happen & Why ............................................................. 14 Assumptions ........................................................................................................ 15 Methodology ....................................................................................................... 17 Parameters of the Thesis-Project ....................................................................... 18 C. Overview of the Thesis ................................................................................... 19 Chapter 2. What Scripture Says About Itself: A Biblical Foundation .......................... 22 A. Bible Translation and Written Texts ............................................................... 22 v Introduction—Connection to Core Concepts ..................................................... 22 Scriptural Testimony for Bible Translation ......................................................... 24 Scripture—Testimony for Its Written Form ........................................................ 29 B. Scripture—Testimony for Oral-Aural Communication ................................... 30 Reading the Written Text Aloud—Hearing the Word ........................................ 30 Scripture—Testimony for Verbal Communication Only ..................................... 33 C. Biblical Testimony for Scripture Engagement ................................................ 34 D. Theological Rationales for Multi-Faceted Scripture Engagement .................. 41 Chapter 3. Literature Review: Scripture Engagement ................................................ 45 A. Introduction: Scripture Promotion & Impact, Then & Now ........................... 45 B. Literature on Traditional Scripture Use: Literacy ........................................... 48 Positive Aspects of Literacy ................................................................................ 49 Negative Aspects of Literacy—Worldview, Logistics, & Lifestyle ....................... 51 C. Literature on Scripture Engagement Innovations: Orality ............................. 63 Literature that Promotes Oral Media ................................................................. 65 Literature on Oral Bible Stories .......................................................................... 70 D. Literature on Contemporary SE: Orality Plus Literacy .................................... 75 Literature on How Relevance Theory Can Influence Media Choice ................... 82 Literature on Non-Print Media & Technology in Contemporary SE ................... 84 vi Chapter 4: Thesis-Project Design & Process ............................................................... 93 A. Thesis-Project Setting, Planning, Preparation, & Execution ........................... 93 The Subjects, the Purpose, & the Time-Frame ................................................... 93 Contextual Variables & the Cultural Milieu ........................................................ 94 The Materials & Their Content ........................................................................... 99 The Hypotheses & My Approach ...................................................................... 101 Assumptions & Expectations ............................................................................ 103 B. Methodology ................................................................................................ 104 Guiding Principles ............................................................................................. 104 Parameters of the Research ............................................................................. 106 Assessment Instruments—Questionnaires & Interviews ................................. 107 Research Procedure .......................................................................................... 109 Thesis-Project Implementation: Distribution, Sale, & Interviews .................... 111 C. Summary ....................................................................................................... 112 Chapter 5: Outcomes ................................................................................................ 114 A. Data Collection Results from Questionnaires .............................................. 114 The Two Questionnaires & Interviews .............................................................. 114 Responses to the Scripture Materials ............................................................... 115 Print Versus Non-Print Media ........................................................................... 118 vii Evaluating Costs—Media Prices ........................................................................ 118 Bibles in Other Languages & Reading Frequency ............................................. 121 Literacy in Kwasio.............................................................................................. 122 Literature Interest ............................................................................................. 126 Anecdotal Feedback: Comments from Respondents ....................................... 127 Data Sorts .......................................................................................................... 130 Conclusions from the Questionnaire-Interviews .............................................. 132 B. Reports from Surveyors: Observations ........................................................ 132 Positive Feedback ............................................................................................. 132 Negative Feedback & Other Issues ................................................................... 134 Understanding the Outcomes........................................................................... 137 C. Action Plans for the Translation Project ....................................................... 139 Scripture Engagement Recommendations ....................................................... 139 Current Activities .............................................................................................. 140 Future Scripture Engagement Activities, Production, Testing, & Research ..... 141 D. Research Method Evaluation—Measuring Success ..................................... 142 Design Strengths ............................................................................................... 142 Design Flaws ...................................................................................................... 143 Suggested Modifications for Future Research .................................................. 144 viii E. Summary ....................................................................................................... 145 Appendix A: Questionnaires ................................................................................. 148 Initial Questionnaire 1— Interview at Purchase of The Prodigal Son Parable . 148 Follow-up Questionnaire 2—Feedback on The Prodigal Son Parable .............. 150 Appendix B: Scripture Products ............................................................................ 151 Print Formats .................................................................................................... 151 Audio-Video Formats: ....................................................................................... 154 Bibliography .............................................................................................................. 156 Vita ............................................................................................................................ 162 ix TABLES Table 1: Follow-up Interviews completed and time elapsed from Initial Interview ...... 114 Table 2: Number of each Scripture product purchased ................................................. 115 Table 3: People’s Scripture product preferences ........................................................... 117 Table 4: Prices of the Scripture media products............................................................. 119 Table 5: Reasons people purchased products ................................................................ 120 Table 6: Bible ownership and reading frequency ........................................................... 121 Table 7: Bible reading frequency by language version ................................................... 122 Table 8: Self-reported Mother-Tongue reading proficiency .......................................... 123 Table 9: How often respondents used the materials over time ..................................... 124 Table 10: Kwasio literature interests .............................................................................. 126 Table 11: Comments from respondents: ........................................................................ 127 x