Translating Christ

• There is a tendency to accept academic training as a criterion of expertness in translating, since people think of translators as language professionals and professionalism is usually judged in terms of years of study. On the other hand, one of the most creative translators I have ever known was Herman Aschmann, a person of limited academic training, but one who became entranced by the cultural content and literary potential of Totonac, an Indian language of Mexico. Instead of submitting one possible rendering of a biblical expression, he usually had a half dozen different ways of representing the meaning of the Greek text. Not only did he produce three exceptional New Testaments in Totonac, but he inspired local people to imitate his skill in discovering more and more meaningful ways of communicating a message into an entirely different language-culture.

  — Dr. Eugene Nida, premier linguist, Bible Translation theoretician, and Herman’s former linguistics teacher

• Herman Aschmann was a kindly man without pretense. His work was always more of the heart than of the head. He was plainspoken, a bit nervous, tolerant of others and always the best kind of company.

  — Felipe Ramos, Totonac pastor and radio voice of the Totonac Cultural Hour

Author

• Hugh Steven
  Hugh Steven

  Hugh Steven is a historical biographer, author, and photographer with Wycliffe Bible Translators. He has published over thirty books and hundreds of articles on the work and ministry of Wycliffe, many of which have given readers dramatic insights into the high adventure and transforming power of the translated scriptures. Now retired, Hugh and his wife Norma reside in Santa Ana, California. They have four married children, eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

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