Linguist Leoma G. Gilley Honored for Decades of Translation Work

Dr. Gilley’s academic journey began with speech and language pathology degrees from the University of Tennessee, followed by a doctorate in linguistics from SOAS, University of London. Her pivot toward field work led her to SIL International, where she focused on the Shilluk language in southern Sudan. Despite the instability of civil war, which forced her temporary evacuation, she persisted in documenting the language’s complex structure.

Returning to Khartoum in 1989, she championed a simplified writing system for 750,000 speakers, culminating in the 2013 dedication of the Shilluk Bible. This milestone remains her most significant professional achievement. Beyond translation, she directed training for SIL International across sub-Saharan Africa for nine years and founded the Institute for the Development of Languages and Translation in Africa (iDELTA) to support local educators and translators.

In 2018, Dr. Gilley launched Leoma's Books to shift her focus toward creative writing. She is currently working on a five-book memoir series, "Not How I Planned It," while documenting the history of the iDELTA program to provide a structural blueprint for future language development initiatives.