Mussau-Emira Bible Portions (EMIWBT)

Overview

The Mussau-Emira Bible Portions contain Scripture translated into the Mussau-Emira language, an Oceanic language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken by approximately 5,000 people on the islands of Mussau and Emira in New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea [1][2]. The translation work was carried out by John and Marjo Brownie, who served as translation facilitators with SIL International and lived on Mussau Island beginning in the mid-1990s, spending approximately 18 years on the project [3][4]. The New Testament was published in diglot form with both Mussau and English text on the same page, allowing readers uncomfortable with one language to use the other [4]. The Mussau-Emira New Testament was dedicated on 29 May 2019 [3]. In February 2014, the Brownies and their co-translator Leslie nearly lost their translation work when their boat capsized in the Pacific Ocean during transit from Mussau to Emirau Island, but the computer containing the translation files was recovered from a waterproof case that washed ashore [3].

Language and People

Mussau-Emira (ISO 639-3: emi) is spoken by approximately 3,500 people in Papua New Guinea, Map 2. [Glottolog: muss1246]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Friends of Mussau-Emira, [Port Moresby?].

References