Kwara'ae 2003 Edition (KWFWBT)
Overview
The New Testament in the Kwara'ae language of the Solomon Islands. Kwara'ae (also known as Fiu or Kwaraqae) is the most widely spoken indigenous language in the Solomon Islands, with approximately 32,400 speakers concentrated in the north-central part of Malaita Island [1][2]. The earliest Kwara'ae Scripture translation was undertaken by Dr. Norman C. Deck of the South Sea Evangelical Mission, who worked with four Kwara'ae men -- two of whom traveled to Australia to assist with the work -- to produce a New Testament published in 1961 under the sponsorship of the South Sea Evangelical Mission and the British and Foreign Bible Society in Australia [3]. The 2003 edition represented by this text is a subsequent revision produced by the Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group (SITAG), a Wycliffe partner organization formed in 1978, and published by Wycliffe Bible Translators [4][5]. The vernacular title is "Fau Alanga'inga Faolu Ana Ala'anga Kwara'ae" [5]. The completed Kwara'ae New Testament later served as a foundation for Bible translation into the closely related Kwaio language, using computer-assisted adaptation tools [6].
Language and People
Kwara'ae (ISO 639-3: kwf) is spoken by approximately 32,400 people in Solomon Islands. [Glottolog: kwar1239]
Publishing and Organizations
Published by WBT, [Orlando, FL].
References
- [1] Kwaraae language and alphabet - Omniglot. Overview of Kwara'ae language including speaker count, classification, and writing system.
- [2] Fiu, Kwara'ae in Solomon Islands - Joshua Project. People group profile with population, location, and Bible translation status.
- [3] Bible Translation (Solomon Islands Encyclopaedia) (archived) - Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia. Historical account of Norman Deck's Kwara'ae New Testament translation published in 1961.
- [4] From the Prairies to the South Pacific (archived) - Wycliffe Canada. Background on SITAG's role as a Wycliffe partner in Solomon Islands translation work.
- [6] Nga Fata Lana la God Enigi Noo (archived) - Solomon Star News. Describes how the Kwara'ae New Testament was adapted into the Kwaio language using computer tools.
- Audio Bible - Audio Bible, Faith Comes By Hearing
- NT - Online text, Faith Comes By Hearing
- Fau Alanga'inga Faolu Ana Ala'anga Kwara'ae - Online text, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc.
- Bible For Developers - DBL archive entry, Digital Bible Library
- Global Bible Catalogue - Global Bible Catalogue entry.
- ebible.org entry - ebible.org.