en_ta/translate/first-draft/01.md

How do I start?

• Pray that God would help you to understand the passage that you are translating and that he would help you to find the best way to communicate that passage in your language. As a team divide the section you are beginning with among you. For example if you are starting with the book of Mark, divide its sixteen chapters up for each translator to take a portion. This division will help ensure that no one is duplicating someone else's work; however, it can serve as a guide and need not be static. In other words, as you progress in the project you may need to rearrange who is doing which parts to help accomodate the speed of each translator.

Consume--the first step of MAST

• If you are translating Open Bible Stories, read the entire story before starting to translate it. If you are translating the Bible, read the entire chapter before you start to translate any part of it. This way you will understand how the part you are translating fits into the larger context, and you will translate it better. This is step 1 of the MAST process and is called "Consume." It should not take longer than five to seven minutes.

Verbalize--the second step of MAST

• Once you have consumed the chapter, verbalize it to a fellow translator. (This step can be done to anyone, even someone who does not speak the language, although it is always best to take turns doing this with other translators on the team.) You will verbalize what you have just read in your mother-tongue. Give a summary of the passage with as much detail as you remember. The person who is listen can give you feedback or reminders when you are done. You may also want to check the text and see if there is anything major you forgot. This process should not take more than a few minutes.

Chunk--The third step of MAST

• After verbalizing the passage you are ready to chunk it into workable parts. (If you are using translation Studio this chunking has been done for you). Break down the chapter into its individual meaning packets. These should be small enough for you to remember easily, but large enough to include at least a full thought. Often these chunks are 2-4 verses. They can be longer in narrative passages. Just look for where your brain naturally takes a break or seperates information and make note of those. Then read over the first chunk of your section so that you are ready to blind draft it.

Blind draft--the fourth step of MAST

• Close your source text and any other resources. This is important because if you are looking at some source in a different language, it will interfere with your ability to write naturally in your mother tongue. Then write a draft from memory of the first chunk in your chapter. Although this can be a stressful step, try to relax and just write everything you remember. Don't worry if you forget something or don't word it eaxctly right. After this step come four checking steps, so you will have opportunity to make corrections, additions, and other edits. This step is about getting the intial draft down in natural, easy-to-read language.

When you have finished these first four steps of the MAST process you have a first draft!