Internalization

Internalization is the process of making a biblical text truly one’s own—absorbing it not just intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well. While this might include memorization, it extends far beyond it. The goal is for translators to engage with the passage on multiple levels: mentally, by understanding its structure and meaning; emotionally, by connecting with its tone and themes; and spiritually, by experiencing its depth and significance.

A key component of internalization is the active use of imagination. Translators should strive to see, hear, and feel the passage as if they were present within it. This immersive engagement fosters a richer, more intuitive translation process, where the text’s poetic and theological beauty is preserved rather than merely transferred.

Internalization is also the setting for oral exegesis. During this phase, a facilitator provides the essential exegetical insights that help translators grasp the meaning of the text before they attempt to translate it. This step ensures that translation is rooted in understanding, which reduces the likelihood of errors later in the process. In fact, data from translation workshops in Benin and Togo demonstrate that rigorous internalization leads to higher-quality translations upfront—such that even first-time translators and musicians produced song translations with remarkably few consultant revisions.

The Psalms: Layer by Layer materials are designed to equip facilitators to lead effective internalization sessions to support a range of learning styles. Facilitators are encouraged to use visual aids selectively, choosing those that will best help their teams engage with the text. Ultimately, internalization is not just about learning the psalm. It is about experiencing it. This approach is essential for producing accurate, poetic, and compelling translations.

The process of internalizing poetry and non-narrative biblical genres is an evolving field, with practitioners around the world continuing to explore best practices. However, key components remain constant across different approaches: multiple opportunities to listen to the source passage, repeated retellings in the translator’s language, a well-balanced progression of these steps, interactive internalization activities, and thorough oral exegesis—because one cannot translate well without first understanding the text deeply.