Alekano Bible (GAHPNG)

Overview

The Alekano Bible, titled "Monoq Gotola Gosohaq" in the vernacular, is the New Testament in the Alekano language, spoken by approximately 40,000 to 62,000 people in the Goroka District of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea [1][2]. The translation was carried out by Dr. Ellis W. Deibler Jr. of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, who began fieldwork among the Alekano people in 1959, living in the village of Wanima north of Goroka [3][4]. During his two decades of work (1959-1979), Deibler conducted language learning, phonological and grammatical analysis, literacy programs, and translation, with the help of several local men [3]. The New Testament, originally published under the language name Gahuku, was dedicated in 1974 and copyrighted in 1973 by the Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, with a revised edition in 1986 [4][5]. Deibler later noted that "Gahuku" was simply the name of the largest clan in the area and adopted the more accurate name "Alekano" for the language [3].

Language and People

Alekano (ISO 639-3: gah) is spoken by approximately 40,000 people in Papua New Guinea, Map 10. [Glottolog: alek1238]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

References