Dieri New Testament (DIFJJW)
Overview
The Testamenta Marra (1897) is the first complete New Testament translation into any Australian Aboriginal language. [1] It was translated into the Dieri (Diyari) language by German Lutheran missionaries Johann Georg Reuther (1861--1914) and Carl Friedrich Theodor Strehlow (1871--1922), who worked together at the Bethesda Mission at Killalpaninna on Cooper Creek in South Australia between 1892 and 1894. [1] [2] Reuther served as director of the Bethesda Mission from 1888 to 1906, while Strehlow arrived in 1892 as a teacher and quickly learned Dieri for use in the mission school. [2] [3] The translation ran to 600 pages and was published in 1897 by the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Synod in Australia, printed by G. Auricht in Tanunda for the British and Foreign Bible Society. [1] [3] The mission committee recognized their work, awarding Reuther 18 pounds and Strehlow 10 pounds. [3] Reuther later left the mission in 1906 and died in 1914; Strehlow went on to serve at Hermannsburg Mission until his death in 1922. [2] [3]
References
- [1] Testamenta Marra - eBible.org - Digital edition and publication details for the Dieri New Testament.
- [2] J.G. Reuther - Diyari.org (archived) - Biography of Reuther and his linguistic work at Killalpaninna.
- [3] Carl Friedrich Strehlow - Australian Dictionary of Biography (archived) - Strehlow's biography, including his collaboration with Reuther on the Dieri New Testament.
Language and People
Dieri (ISO 639-3: dif) is a Pama-Nyungan language of South Australia. [Glottolog: dier1241]
Publishing and Organizations
Published by G. Auricht, Tanunda for the BFBS. Translation type: First.
- The Dieri New Testament (1900 proceedings) - Internet Archive / JSTOR. 1900 proceedings documenting the Dieri New Testament translation.
- Global Bible Catalogue - Global Bible Catalogue entry.