Master of Arts in Missiology, Major in Applied Linguistics
(Focus in Bible Translation)
Distribution of Subjects per Semester (70 units)
Summer (3 units)
Introduction to Linguistics
(Non-credit requirement)
Phonetics (3u)
First Year
First Semester (15 units) Second Semester (14 units)
Phonology
Linguistic Field Methods
Grammar
Literacy Principles
Semantics
Translation Principles
Cultural Anthropology
Computer Use in Data Management (2u)
Language & Culture Acquisition Applied Socio-linguistics/Program Planning
Summer (8 units)
LIFE – Internship
Professional Elective
Professional Elective
Second Year
First Semester (12 units) Second Semester (12 units)
Greek or Hebrew 1
Greek or Hebrew 2
New Testament 1 or
New Testament 2 or
Old Testament 1 Old Testament 2
Theology 1
Theology 2 or 3
Being a Servant Leader Personal & Spiritual Formation
Third Year
First Semester (3 units)
Greek or Hebrew 3
Second Semester (3 units)
Greek or Hebrew 4
Summary of Units
Foundation
Old or New Testament ------------------------------------------------------------------------6 units
Theology ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 units
Being A Servant Leader ----------------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Personal & Spiritual Formation -------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Total ------------- 18 units
Biblical Languages
Greek or Hebrew ------------------------------------------------------------------------------12 units
Total ------------12 units
Core Professional Courses
Phonetics ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Phonology --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Language & Culture Acquisition ------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Grammar ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Semantics ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Cultural Anthropology ------------------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Linguistic Field Methods ---------------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Computer Data Management -----------------------------------------------------------------Literacy Principles -----------------------------------------------------------------------------3 units
2 units
Translation Principles -------------------------------------------------------------------------3 units
Applied Socio-linguistics & Program Planning -------------------------------------------3 units
Total ------------32 units
Internship
Learning in Field Experience ----------------------------------------------------------------2 units
Total -------------
2 units
Professional Electives -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Total ------------- 6 units
6 units
Course Description for Additional Subjects
Master of Arts in Missiology, Major in Applied Linguistics
Phonetics: the study of the mechanisms by which sounds are produced so that students can (1) recognize
and transcribe the sounds of any language, (2) produce sounds from a transcription and, (3) mimic sounds
upon hearing.
Phonology: approaches language as a sound system. It attempts to unlock the sound patterns encoded in a
language. Students will have daily exercises in analyzing sound patterns of sample languages from all over the
world.
Grammar: covers three major areas: (1) linguistic knowledge which focuses on the nature of linguistic analysis,
linguistic universals and common linguistic phenomena, standard descriptive linguistic terminology; (2) linguistic
analysis skills which involve problem solving, techniques and procedures for analyzing data with data examples,
and effective communication of results in writing and informal presentations; and (3) linguistic theory which
includes generative grammar (transformational, extended word, and paradigm morphology), and doing precise
formal analysis.
Language and Culture Acquisition: is an introduction to self-directed second language acquisition, accomplished
through working with a native speaker of another language. Students will learn to identify and apply their own
language learning style characteristics, plan and manage their language learning, use appropriate techniques and
activities to develop second language competence at the novice level, and describe techniques and activities suitable
for language learning at more advanced levels.
Translation Principles: is designed to present the theory which is the basis for translating written
materials from one language to another: the transfer of the meaning and style of the source material
rather than the exact lexical or grammatical form, in such a way that the resultant translation will sound
natural to the target readers and at the same time is properly understood by them.
Literacy Principles: covers principles involved in the introduction of literacy to preliterate ethno-linguistic groups.
It includes reading theory, instructional methodologies and materials, culturally relevant motivation, orthography
design, program management, the stimulation of local authorship and the ongoing use of literacy in a particular
culture. Students will be exposed to literacy case studies from a wide variety of countries and situations.
Linguistic Field Methods: gives students an opportunity to apply the theories and skills they have learned in
Articulatory Phonetics, Phonology and Morphology and Syntax in a laboratory situation. Students are taught to
elicit, record and transcribe linguistic data by working with a speaker of a non-Western language, use external
sources plus the elicited data to formulate hypotheses, and test those hypotheses and refine them.
Computer Data Management: teaches students how to use appropriate software to manage and analyze language
and culture data. Students learn to use Keyman, MS-Word, importation of RTF files, and the various applications in
the LinguaLinks Library which is an electronic form provided by Summer Institute of Linguistics, International.
Cultural Anthropology: a study of the principles and skills that students need for effective cross-cultural ministry.
They also gain an understanding of their own cultural identity, as well as the similarities and differences between
themselves and the people of another culture. The Ethnography portion of the course focuses on field methodology
for gathering and interpreting cultural and behavioral data. This is learned by writing an ethnography, based on
cultural research carried out by the student, idioms, figures of speech, unknown ideas, skewed grammatical
constructions (like rhetorical questions, genitive constructions and passive constructions), and implicit information.
Semantics: explores the nature of meaning - specifically, how people communicate meaning via language.
Discussions focus on the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences, and the semantic relationships which exist
between such units. Some attention is given to various theoretical approaches to the study of meaning, though the
emphasis is on understanding various issues (e.g., polysemy, homonymy, lexical relationships), and on procedures
for investigating and describing the semantic network of a given language. Attempts will be made throughout the
course to relate insights from Semantics to other areas of study; especially hermeneutics, translation, and
interpersonal communication.
LIFE (Learning in Field Experience): Students coming from organizations that have specific internship
requirements will do their internship according to those requirements upon approval by the program director. ABS
will give credit for such internship upon receipt of the necessary evaluation reports. Such students will still be
required to participate in the LIFE seminars and group discussions.
Other students will do a LIFE program similar to that of the Missions Program with the only difference being that
the internship must involve a translation, linguistics, or literacy ministry/project.
PROFESSIONAL ELECTIVE COURSES
Translation 2: this course is designed to give the students further experience in applying the translation principles.
The emphasis is on identifying the grammatical and semantic structure of the source language and aims at
expressing the message in different languages.
Intercultural Communication: a study of the communication process in the intercultural settings to prepare
ministers and missionaries for more effective communication of the gospel. Students gain an understanding o the
many components of the communication process, become conversant with basic communication theories and the
complexities of the communication process, and learn to apply this understanding to enhance intercultural
communication.
Community Development: an introduction to theories and best practices of faith-based development work.
Students will partner with churches and local organizations to conduct action research, connecting learning to
classroom practice. Through discussion, reflection, and analysis of cases and personal experiences, participants
integrate lessons learned into their biblical worldview of Christian ministry. Class members form a learning
community that controls class sessions and course-related decision making.
Missionary Life & Practice: an overview of personal issues that confront missionaries in fulfilling their calling.
Students are introduced to common questions and problems faced by missionaries in their life and ministry, as well
as different attempts to address these questions and problems. They develop a preliminary personal response to
these issues.
Christianity in Context: this course explores the complex interaction between Christianity and its cultural
expressions, with a view toward more effectively living out the demands of Scriptures in our own contexts.
Students gain an understanding of the crucial issues raised by the relationship between Christianity and culture,
interact critically with various attempts at contextual theology, and address a specific aspect of their own ministry in
light of the Word of God in an attempt to develop a local, contextual theology.