Contribution de la traduction biblique à l’enrichissement des langues cibles : Le cas du bamanankan au Mali

Abstract

Bible translation extends beyond merely conveying the spiritual message of the sacred text. It has served as a foundational reference for the development of local literature and educational materials, thereby facilitating literacy and the expanded use of written forms in target languages. The Bible remains the most significant literary work in most African languages, and its translation continues to play a central role in efforts to enrich these languages. In particular, it contributes to the lexical and conceptual development of languages such as Bamanankan. Bible translation fosters the expansion and stabilization of vocabulary and enhances the functionalization of numerous languages through the creation and adaptation of neologisms, the standardization of grammatical structures, and the reinforcement of the usage of existing terms and expressions. Our study aims to illustrate these principles using examples from the Bible in Bamanankan. Its relevance to this conference lies in the intricate interdependence between the disciplines of translation and terminology. This paper advocates for the establishment of national commissions on neology and terminology in Mali, bringing together translation scholars and terminologists to enhance and optimize the mission of enriching and refining our national languages.