Khirwar Scripture Portions — Wycliffe India (KWXWIN)

Overview

This Scripture resource in the Khirwar language was produced by Wycliffe India, the national branch of Wycliffe Bible Translators formed in 2008 to reach minority language groups across India. The resource is listed in the Faith Comes By Hearing database under the alternate language name "Palmuwa," reflecting a community self-designation that is distinct from the more widely used Ethnologue name "Khirwar." The Khirwar (Palmuwa) language was entirely oral until relatively recently; phonological analysis, orthography development, and initial Gospel translation were pioneer steps carried out through Wycliffe India's engagement with the community. Bible portions were completed by 2016 according to the Joshua Project. Wycliffe India has been equipping many such language communities to develop written forms of their languages for the first time, and Scripture portions in audio form represent a critical bridge for oral-preference learners. The language is spoken in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh and parts of Jharkhand.

Language and People

Khirwar (ISO 639-3: kwx), also known as Palmuwa, Kalari, Kherwari, or Khirwara, is a Dravidian language spoken by approximately 41,000 people in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand states of central India, particularly in the Surguja district. The Kharwar tribe, whose language this is, has a much larger population when counting secondary speakers. [Glottolog: khir1248]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe India.

References