Amis New Testament — Pangcah (Amis) New Testament (Taiwan)
Overview
Fagcalay codad ("New Testament" — literally "New Words/Covenant") is the complete New Testament in the Amis (Pangcah) language of eastern Taiwan, available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 3411; abbreviation: AMIS2019) and published by the Bible Society of Taiwan in partnership with Wycliffe Taiwan. The community autonym Pangcah (also spelled Pangtsah) means "human being / the people" and is the preferred self-designation of the Amis community; the external name Amis (also spelled Ami) derives from the word for "north" in the Puyuma language. Amis (ISO 639-3: ami) is the largest indigenous language of Taiwan by speaker count — an East Formosan language of the Austronesian family.
Language and People
Amis (ISO 639-3: ami; autonym: Pangcah) is an Austronesian language: Austronesian → East Formosan branch (Formosan languages are the primary non-Malayo-Polynesian divergences, making Taiwan linguistically the ancestral homeland of all Austronesian languages). Amis/Pangcah belongs to the East Formosan subgroup alongside Sakizaya and Nataoran Amis. Formosan languages are considered among the most linguistically diverse within Austronesian.
The Amis/Pangcah community inhabits:
- Eastern Taiwan coastal plain — from Hualien County south through Taitung County, along the Pacific coast
- Scattered communities throughout Taiwan due to urbanization, with a large urban Amis population in Taipei and other cities
Estimated speakers: approximately 150,000–200,000 — the largest indigenous language community in Taiwan (Taiwanese Council of Indigenous Peoples).
Cultural Context
The Amis/Pangcah have traditionally been coastal and riverine fisher-farmers of eastern Taiwan, with a distinctive matrilineal social organization, elaborate age-grade ceremonies (ilisin harvest festival), and rich oral traditions. The Amis were among the earliest Taiwan indigenous peoples to encounter Christian missionaries (primarily Catholic and Presbyterian) in the 19th and 20th centuries; Christianity is now practiced by the majority of the Amis community. The Bible Society of Taiwan and Wycliffe Taiwan have collaborated on Amis scripture for decades, resulting in the 2019 New Testament edition.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by the Bible Society of Taiwan (聖經公會, biblesociety.org.tw) in partnership with Wycliffe Taiwan (Wycliffe Associates Taiwan). The Amis Proverbs Android app is published by Wycliffe Taiwan.