The Trustees of URANTIA Foundation have decided to format the French, Finnish, and Spanish translations and all future translations in such a way that they will match the English translation page-by-page and paragraph- by-paragraph. For example, the content of any paragraph and page in the Finnish translation will be the same content as the corresponding paragraph and page in the English translation.
The following is an update on the progress of our current translations:
French: Corrections are being made and the new formatting is being done in preparation for the next printing.
Finnish: Editing complete, formatting begun.
Spanish: Translating complete, editing continues.
We hope to announce some exciting news about new translations in our next newsletter.
Translating The URANTIA Book is a long and difficult process that requires much time, effort, and money. For example, the Finnish translation will have required:
- To translate: Six years, working six hours a day, 364 days a year.
- To edit: One year, working six hours a day.
- To format: Two months, working six hours a day.
- To print: Three months.
- Grand Total: Seven years and five months.
The translator of the Finnish URANTIA-kirja says that the ideal translator would be at least thirty-five years of age; would have read The URANTIA Book at least six times (including having read it at least once in the last two years); would be equally proficient in English and his or her native language; would be part of a team comprised of a chief translator and three assistants; and must be translating from the English version of The URANTIA Book.
The Foundation would like to meet with individuals who are interested in translating The URANTIA Book, even if they may not meet the above profile of the ideal translator.