About the Author
Dr. Kenneth McElhanon is a linguist and translator with over sixty years’ experience. He was the lead translator of the New Testament into the Selepet language of Papua New Guinea published in 1986. Thereafter he taught translation courses at seminaries and universities for 25 years. He has edited four books, and has published in professional journals covering translation, linguistics, and cultural anthropology. Most notably,
“From Word to Scenario: The Influence of Linguistic Theories upon Models of Translation.” Journal of Translation, 1(3):29-67. siljot2005_3_02.pdf
“From Simple Metaphors to Conceptual Blending: The Mapping of Analogical Concepts and the Praxis of Translation.” Journal of Translation 2(1):31-81. siljot2006_1_03.pdf
“When Quality Is in the Eye of the Beholder: Paradigm communities and the certification of standards for judging quality.” Journal of Translation, 3(1): 1-16. siljot2007_1_03.pdf
On the day that an assassin took the life of President John F. Kennedy, Ken and his wife Noreen sailed from Vancouver, Canada, her native land, to begin a new life in Papua New Guinea. Over the next twenty years Ken and Noreen became fluent in the Selepet language. He analyzed the grammar, devised an alphabet, and in 1970 received a PhD in linguistics from the Australian National University. She helped compile a Selepet-English Dictionary (1970) and supervised a literacy program for Selepet speakers to acquire English as a second language.
They have three children: Cheryl Oatridge born in Seattle, Cynthia Franklin born in Papua New Guinea, and Geoffrey McElhanon born in Australia. Yes, an international family.
