Lacandon New Testament (LACTBL)

Overview

The Lacandon New Testament, titled "A quet u t'ʌno' a ric'beno'," was completed in 1978 and published by Liga Biblica Internacional (World Bible League) through the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators [1][2]. The translation was carried out by Phillip and Mary Baer, SIL missionaries who lived among the Lacandon people for more than fifty years and produced extensive linguistic work on the language, including grammars, primers, and a Lacandon-Spanish dictionary [3][4]. The Lacandon are a Maya people inhabiting the Selva Lacandona of Chiapas, Mexico, comprising two geographically distinct groups: northern Lacandones near the ruins of Palenque and southern Lacandones near Bonampak [5][6]. The southern Lacandon community, numbering only a few hundred speakers, assisted the SIL missionaries in the translation of the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament into their language [5]. Wycliffe founder Cameron Townsend originally approved sending translators to the Lacandones despite their small population, likening the decision to Jesus' parable of the shepherd seeking one lost sheep [7]. Bible portions in Lacandon were first published in 1968, with the New Testament following in 1978 and further revisions through 2014 [2].

Language and People

Lacandon (ISO 639-3: lac) is spoken by approximately 600 people in Eastern Central Mexico. [Glottolog: laca1243]

Publishing and Organizations

Created by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA. Translation type: New.

References