New Testament in Burunge (BDSWBT)

Overview

The Burunge New Testament — titled Ila⁄imbidu Gu ⁄abu hari Burungaisoo — was completed in 2018, the culmination of a translation project that began in 1997 when local churches and linguistic experts partnered to develop the written language and translate Scripture. [1][2] Burunge is a South Cushitic language of the Afro-Asiatic family, closely related to Iraqw, Alagwa, and Gorwaa; it is spoken by the Burunge (Waburungi) people in the Chemba District of the Dodoma Region in central Tanzania. [3] The translation project was part of the broader "Dodoma cluster," a multi-language initiative supported by SIL Tanzania and Wycliffe Bible Translators. [1][4] The translation team included Burunge translator and pastor Emmanuel Doe, who has continued working on Old Testament translation. [2] Scripture portions were dedicated in stages, including seven new books in 2010, before the full New Testament celebration in August 2017, twenty years after work began. [1][4]

Language and People

Burunge (ISO 639-3: bds) is spoken by approximately 13,000 people in Tanzania. [Glottolog: buru1320]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

References