Highland Oaxaca Chontal New Testament (CHDWBT)

Overview

The New Testament in Highland Oaxaca Chontal was published in 1991 by Wycliffe Bible Translators. The translation was the work of Viola Waterhouse (1918-1997), an SIL linguist who began fieldwork among the Chontal of Oaxaca in 1942, together with her colleagues May Morrison and Muriel Parrot and Chontal-speaking co-workers. [1] Waterhouse developed the first written form of the language and completed a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in 1958 with a dissertation on its grammatical structure. [1] Bible portions were available from 1963, with additional portions through 1980, before the New Testament's completion. [2] The Highland Oaxaca Chontal people live in the Sierra de Oaxaca region of southern Mexico, in the municipalities of Santa Maria Ecatepec, Magdalena Tequisistlan, and San Carlos Yautepec. [2]

Translators and Contributors

  • Viola Waterhouse (1918-1997) — SIL linguist and lead translator. Began Chontal fieldwork in 1942, developed the first writing system for the language, and completed the NT translation published in 1991. Ph.D. from University of Michigan (1958). [1]
  • May Morrison — SIL colleague, early collaborator on Chontal linguistic work. [1]
  • Muriel Parrot — SIL colleague, co-produced literacy materials and contributed to the translation. [1]

Language and People

Highland Oaxaca Chontal (ISO 639-3: chd) is spoken by approximately 3,600 people in Eastern Central Mexico. [Glottolog: high1242]

Publishing and Organizations

Created by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. Published by Lederer Messianic Ministries. Translation type: New.

References