A movement where Christ is named
SIL International
Bible translation & distribution · Founded 1934 · by William Cameron Townsend · Dallas, Texas, USA
SIL International, also known as SIL Global, is a faith based nonprofit that began in 1934 as the Summer Institute of Linguistics. Founded by William Cameron Townsend, it serves language communities around the world through linguistic research, literacy work, and Bible translation. Its mission is to help people, especially those who speak minority languages, develop their languages and gain access to Scripture in the words they understand best.
What they do
SIL carries out field linguistics, documenting and analyzing languages that have often never been written down. Its researchers develop alphabets, dictionaries, and grammars, and they partner with local speakers to build reading and writing programs so communities can put their own language on the page.
From that groundwork comes Bible translation. SIL trains and supports mother tongue translators, provides tools and consultants, and helps produce Scripture in printed, audio, and digital forms. Its wider work also includes literacy education, language development, and technology that other translation groups rely on.
The Scripture behind the work
Where the door leads
SIL exists so that people can hear and read the words of Jesus in the language of their heart, not a borrowed one. By giving communities Scripture they can truly understand, it opens a direct door to Christ and to the gospel. A simple next step is to read the story of Pentecost in Acts 2 and ask who around you still waits for that.
Connect to the real thing
The Living Bread is a door, not the destination. The life is with Christ and his people.
People also ask
Is SIL International the same as Wycliffe?
They are closely linked partner organizations with a shared history, but they are distinct. SIL focuses on linguistics, language development, and translation support, while Wycliffe organizations mobilize people, prayer, and funding for Bible translation.
What does SIL do besides Bible translation?
SIL also works in field linguistics, literacy and education, language documentation, and language technology, serving many minority language communities regardless of whether a translation project is underway.