Fw: Language Technology Talent Acquisition Newsletter v25.07

Tue Jul 15 17:24:33 EDT 2025

Missions-related opportunities:

________________________________
From: SIL <robert_w_clementz at sil.org>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 8:42 AM
To: Keith Vander Linden <kvlinden at calvin.edu>
Subject: Language Technology Talent Acquisition Newsletter v25.07

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July 2025  v.25.07

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>From the Manager’s Desk

by Robert Clementz

In 2006, I witnessed something extraordinary in the remote western region of Papua New Guinea. After nineteen years of challenges, Tabo people gathered to celebrate the completion of their New Testament in both Aramia and Fly River dialects. The dedication was unlike anything I had ever experienced—voices rising in harmony as the community celebrated this monumental achievement in their own language.

But the story didn't end there. On September 27-28, 2024, the 10,000 Tabo people celebrated once again as they received a revised New Testament. This wasn't just another milestone; it represented the remarkable transformation of their community. From no functioning churches in 1988, nearly 20 local churches now flourish. Over 900 copies were distributed, with a planeload of partner organizations joining the celebration.

What made this revision possible was the sophisticated blend of traditional expertise and cutting-edge technology. SIL's software tools enabled seamless collaboration between Tabo translators in Papua New Guinea and their expatriate colleagues in the United States. But even more remarkable is how emerging technology is revolutionizing translation work for languages with limited resources. These tools now identify problems earlier in the translation process, ensure consistency, and enable mother-tongue speakers to take more active roles in their own translations.

This technological evolution means that communities like the Tabo—who live along remote river systems—can now access tools that were previously unthinkable. Technology solutions reduce reliance on external support while increasing cultural relevance, allowing local voices to guide their own scriptural heritage.

Today, with their revised New Testaments in hand, the Tabo people plan to deepen their engagement with Scripture. A new generation of passionate advocates for God's Word is rising up within the community, ensuring the gospel remains central to their lives and culture. The transformation is complete: from a community with no churches to one where nearly 20 congregations worship God in their own dialects, supported by technology that bridges continents and empowers local leadership.

Language Technology Staff Highlight

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Brian: Could you walk us through your professional and/or ministry experience before becoming part of the SIL team?

Jeff  Heath:  After earning a Master’s in Computer Engineering from Cornell, I worked in the Boston area designing embedded systems for high-end hard drives at Digital Equipment Corp. But my wife and I felt called to missions, so we left that behind and served with Mennonite Central Committee for three years in rural Burkina Faso, working in water resource development (her field). After that, we joined Wycliffe, completed training in computers, linguistics, and French, and headed to Chad to work with SIL.

Brian: Tell us about your current position and the specific Language Technology team you work with.

Jeff Heath:  My early years with SIL Chad focused on general IT management, but I was drawn to the Language Technology (LT) side of the work. That led me to pursue a Master’s in Computational Linguistics from the University of Washington, and since finishing that degree, I’ve been working full-time as an LT Consultant. For a time I was working alone, but for the past two years I’ve had two helpful assistants (a Chadian and a part-time American) who recently became certified LT Specialists.

Together we work on typesetting Scripture, building Android apps, converting data, managing audio, creating custom keyboards, archiving, and more. We also do a lot of training and problem solving. I also served as the LT domain coordinator for Francophone Africa for several years, leading regional training and mentoring, but have now passed that role on to a colleague I’ve been mentoring from Burkina Faso.

Brian:  Looking back, what is one individual or experience that sparked your passion for joining the Bible translation movement?

Jeff Heath:  Once God gave me a heart for missions, Bible translation felt like a natural fit for my skills in computing—a meaningful way to invest the gifts He gave me. This was confirmed after our three years in Burkina Faso. The high-end hard drives that we had been designing before I left? Completely obsolete after three years! That confirmed my desire to invest my gifts in work with eternal significance.

Brian:  When you reflect on your daily responsibilities, which elements bring you the most fulfillment?

Jeff Heath:  I really enjoy programming, especially working on PrimerPrep<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://sil.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=76aba696ae7578c2cb883ce77&id=51af729e59&e=2b5249b6fb__;!!NqMqxtPG!_zb5Oc5fkEt317x4ShOuFrffJ-lpMf5fJSijP42X2wGG2qhVoMZgHuOf84PT1Z7YN2_eMan7b_eUhRbt9vQKSkAfUms$>, and automating tasks with tools I create and using Regular Expressions. But the deepest fulfillment comes when I help typeset Scripture or create an app and see the joy on the faces of local translators as they see how all their hard work has come alive in this polished, accessible form.

Brian:  If you had to capture the essence of your teammates in just a handful of words, what would you say?

Jeff Heath:  My teammates have really blossomed in these two short years, eager to learn and grow, and they are now competent partners. It’s a joy for me to be able to entrust projects into their capable hands!

Prayer Points for Talent Acquisition

  *   Please pray for the mentors and interns working together this summer. All are well into their internship.

One young man’s father said, “Just want to let you know that my son’s internship has been working out great for him. He seems to really enjoy the work and has a good relationship with his mentor and other team members. On top of that, he was able to raise more support than he expected. So overall this has been a very encouraging experience for him, and I wanted to say thank you for your help in getting him connected and started. We really appreciate your part in making this opportunity possible for him.”

  *   Pray for Talent Acquisition’s Fall 2025 planning as we look forward to many university visits beginning in early September.

Selected Job Opportunities

· Back End Developer

· DevOps Engineer

· Product Manager

· Video Editor

· AI (NLP) Applications Developer

· Software Test Engineer

· Technical Trainer

· Type Designer

· Copywriter

· Talent Acquisition Specialist

· Software Architect

· SEO Specialist

· Script Engineer

· UX/UI Designer

· Web Developer

· LT Field Recruiter

· LT Follow-up Recruiter

· Software Developer

· Script Technologist

· Language Technology Specialist

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