FAQ

“Vernacular” refers to a person's everyday language—what he or she has grown up speaking. It is the language a person understands best, sometimes referred to as his or her “heart language.”

Before we choose particular media tools, we study the specific language group and evaluate their communication needs. Then, based on our analysis, we create a custom blend of media tools that will best speak to that language group. Some factors we evaluate are:

• The unique characteristics of the language community.
• The goals of the language program or ministry.
• The needs and attitudes of the intended audience.
• The characteristics and availability of each media option.

No. In many cases, vernacular media sparks interest in literacy. In oral societies, many people are not accustomed to reading and writing, and literacy may not be valued right away. Yet often, when people see media in their own language, they become interested in learning to read and write.

Campus Crusades for Christ has given VMS the right to translate the JESUS film for language groups of less than 250,000 people. During the last 10 years, we have dubbed 117 languages into the JESUS film.

Since the early 1990s, we have helped dub:

• 133 languages into the JESUS film.
• 237 languages into some or all of Luke.
• 86 languages into some or all of Genesis.
• 16 languages into some or all of Acts.
• 6 languages into God’s Story.
• 5 languages into The Hope.

A Vernacular Media Specialist is someone who has completed the 14-week VMS Certification Course and is serving with the Wycliffe Bible Translators family of organizations. He or she guides language teams in the use of vernacular media and provides technical assistance for media projects.

The VMS Certification Course is a 14-week program that trains students to create culturally appropriate media tools. The course is held at the JAARS Center in Waxhaw, N.C., and is divided into three sections:

• Sociolinguistics and media issues relating specifically to language programs (one week).
• Strategic planning for creating effective media programs in cross-cultural situations (three weeks).
• Technical training for audio recording, postproduction and equipment maintenance (10 weeks).

The course is open to anyone who has an interest in working with vernacular media, especially as it relates to oral societies. We require that trainees have basic mechanical and interpersonal skills. We do not require previous experience, yet training in electronics, communications or music is helpful.