A tool to help you discover what Scripture translation is needed in places where people use two or more languages

The next planned online training in MAT is from 1st-5th December 2025, in a semi-intensive mode -visit this page for more details. Please get in touch if you would like training at another time or in another mode. 

We are also planning two face-to-face workshops in Papua New Guinea in October 2025, subject to confirmation. 

Nearly everywhere on earth communities use more than one language. What does that mean for Bible translation into languages that still might need Scripture? What parts of the Bible should we choose? How would people use those products? Would they listen, sing, read, or watch it on video? What fits best? This assessment tool is meant to help churches and ministries to discover how the use of two or more languages in a community affects needs and plans for Bible translation.

The easiest way to start looking at multilingualism in a community that uses two or more languages is by thinking about what kind, or type, of multilingualism that community uses. You can use the so-called Typology Assessment to find out what TYPE of language situation you are facing and what that means for Bible translation work.

Here is a 5 minute video introducing the Tool, which you might find it useful to watch.

There are three forms of the Multilingualism Assessment Tool (MAT). 

1) There is the full version, in pdf format, which gives the overall model, all the details, and serves as a reference for using the tool. It is not the best version to use when working with a community, but is there for the facilitator to draw on when necessary. In this Manual, there have been changes to some questions and optional responses in the Assessment Tool. These changes have not been made in any of the translations of the Manual, the Facilitators Guide, or the App. As new versions of those instruments become available, this note will reflect which ones are available. 

• A Spanish version is available here

• A French version is available/ La version française here

2) There is a shorter Facilitators' Guide, which serves as a reference for when doing a mutilingual assessment with members of a community. It will be useful while working on the Tool. This can be accompanied by the web app where the answers can be filled in.

• A French version of the Facilitators' Guide is available/ La version française here

3) There is a new web app, at https://matfacilitator.com. This will fill in the relevant language names for you, and calculate the results, so is the easiest way to do a Multilingual Assessment (on phone or computer), ideally while having a paper copy of the Facilators' Guide to hand. This is currently available in English , French, Spanish and Indonesian. 

Multilingualism is one of the many factors influencing scripture use and impact and an important issue on which to start discussion. Other factors are included in the Scripture Engagement Guide, where you will also find a two minute discussion starter “I want to use all my languages” 

Please contact matbtsil@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Look at the MAT Manual below: