Ibot Tenen Man — Finongan Scripture Portions (Papua New Guinea)
Overview
Ibot Tenen Man is 2-book scripture portions in the Finongan (Finungwa) language of Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, published by SIL International and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 4006). The community's autonym Finungwa (also rendered Finungwan) differs from the scholarly designation Finongan, which is the name used in linguistic classification. The language belongs to the Erap branch of the Finisterre-Huon language family — a group of approximately 20 Papuan languages concentrated in the Finisterre Range of northeastern PNG. This translation provides scripture for a small Papuan community in one of the world's most linguistically diverse regions.
Language and People
Finongan (ISO 639-3: fag; autonym: Finungwa / Finungwan) is a Papuan (Trans-New Guinea) language: Trans-New Guinea → Finisterre-Huon → Finisterre branch → Erap sub-branch. The Erap languages are a cluster of roughly 5–6 closely related varieties within the broader Finisterre Range group, spoken along the middle Erap River valley in the hinterland of Morobe Province. Related Erap branch languages include Gusan and Mamaa. The Finisterre-Huon family as a whole is one of the most linguistically complex areas of PNG, with dozens of distinct languages in a relatively small geographic area.
The Finongan community inhabits:
- Finisterre Range, Markham District area, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea
- Middle-altitude hill and valley terrain in the Finisterre Range hinterland, above the Markham Valley
- Inland from the northeastern PNG coast, in the region between Lae and the upper Ramu River drainage
Estimated speakers: approximately 1,140–1,300 (2006 census data; SIL published figures).
Cultural Context
Morobe Province is one of PNG's most linguistically rich provinces, home to dozens of Trans-New Guinea and Austronesian languages. The Finisterre Range communities are subsistence farmers at mid-altitude elevations, connected to the lowland Markham Valley by foot tracks and seasonal roads. SIL has worked extensively in Morobe Province since the mid-20th century as part of its systematic documentation and translation program for PNG's estimated 800+ languages. The Erap branch languages, despite their close relatedness, typically receive separate scripture and literacy materials in recognition of distinct community identities and communicative differences.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by SIL International through its PNG branch program.