The Translator's Reference Translation (TRT) is a comprehensive, yet concise, reference tool for every stage of the Bible translation process. It is designed for use by everyone involved in that process, including national translators, editors and reviewers, as well as expatriate or national translation advisors and consultants.

In this book, the author aims to explore the impact of 19th-century translations of the Bible into indigenous languages, with a specific focus on the Setswana translation. The translations have had a profound effect on the religio-cultural practices of the indigenous people, leading to erosion and alteration of their traditions and identities. I argue that it is crucial to consider the translator's intentions and the associated literature, such as journals and letters, to understand the translation process comprehensively. The Setswana Bible was the first to be translated in Africa, and tracing the intentions of Robert Moffat, the first translator, is imperative to understanding the impact of the translation on the receptor culture. The methodology adopted is interdisciplinary, drawing from linguistics, African languages, history, English literature, cultural studies, black studies and theology. I analyse the impact of the 1840 Gospel of Luke in the context of Setswana culture in South Africa, and my findings demonstrate that translations cannot be distinct from the translator. To gain a deep understanding of the implications of such texts, I adopt a methodology that analyses significant historical literature and primary sources, including the records and works of The British and Foreign Bible Society, The History of the London Missionary Society, and the journals, letters and writings of missionaries such as Robert Moffat and John Campbell.

This series aims to provide basic help on exegetical and translation issues for those who speak English as a second language.

This handbook, like others in this series, concentrates on exegetical matters that are of prime importance for translators, and it attempts to indicate possible solutions for translational problems that may arise because of language or culture. In this respect the Handbook attempts to deal with the full range of information important to translators. However, the authors do not attempt to provide help that other theologians and scholars may be seeking but which is not directly useful for the task of translating. It is assumed that such information is available elsewhere.