Maxakalí New Testament (MBLWBT)

Overview

New Testament in Maxakalí (BR:mbl:Maxakalí). The Maxakalí (who call themselves Tikmũ'ũn) are an indigenous people living in the mountains near the border between the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Bahia, in municipalities including Santa Helena de Minas, Bertópolis, Ladainha, and Teófilo Otoni [1][2]. The earliest historical references to the Maxakalí date from the 16th century [2]. The Maxakalí language belongs to the Maxakalían branch of the Macro-Ge language family and is notable for its unusual phonological system [3]. SIL linguist Harold Popovich and his wife, anthropologist Frances Popovich, lived among the Maxakalí from 1958 to 1987, conducting extensive linguistic and cultural research [4]. Harold Popovich developed a phonemic alphabet and literacy primers, and through this alphabet he translated the New Testament into Maxakalí, which was published by SIL [4]. The current edition, titled "Topa Yõg Tappet," was copyrighted in 2011 by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. and represents the first New Testament in the language [5].

Language and People

Maxakalí (ISO 639-3: mbl) is spoken by approximately 1,270 people in Southern Brazil. [Glottolog: maxa1247]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. Translation type: First.

References