Matsés New Testament (MCFWBT)

Overview

New Testament in Matses (PE:mcf:Matses). The Matses (also known as Mayoruna) are a Panoan-speaking indigenous people of approximately 2,200 to 5,500 people living along the Bajo Yaquerana river and its tributaries in the Loreto department of Peru, with additional communities in Brazil [1][2]. The Matses made their first permanent peaceful contact with the outside world in 1969, when they accepted SIL linguists Harriet Fields and Hattie Kneeland into their communities [3][4]. Fields and Kneeland conducted extensive linguistic documentation, producing phonological descriptions, grammars, and text collections from approximately 1966 to 1981 [5]. The New Testament was published in April 1994 after over 30 years of translation work by a Wycliffe linguist [2][6]. Scripture memorization became widespread among the Matses, with community members memorizing entire books of the New Testament; one elder memorized fourteen books including Romans [3]. Each Matses community in Peru now has a self-sustaining church with local pastors [4]. The 2008 edition, titled "Esuquidistu Chuiquin Tantiamete," is a revision published by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc., and Matses translators have continued working with Hattie Kneeland on further revision alongside Old Testament portions [3][7].

Language and People

Matsés (ISO 639-3: mcf) is spoken by approximately 6,500 people in Western Central Brazil. [Glottolog: mats1244]

Publishing and Organizations

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

References