Kupang Malay Bible (MKNUBB)

Overview

Genesis, Ruth, Esther, Jonah, and the New Testament in Kupang Malay, published in 2007 by Unit Bahasa dan Budaya (UBB) with translation by Wycliffe Bible Translators. [1] Kupang Malay is a Malay-based creole spoken by around 200,000 people in and around Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province in western Timor. Although often dismissed as "broken Indonesian" (bahasa Indonesia yang rusak), Kupang Malay is a distinct language with its own grammar, vocabulary, and discourse structures heavily influenced by Dutch, Portuguese, and local Austronesian languages. [2] Its pronoun system, negation, and tense-aspect-mood marking differ substantially from standard Indonesian, making an Indonesian Bible insufficient for clear communication with Kupang Malay speakers. [2] Linguist Charles E. Grimes, affiliated with UBB and SIL International, contributed to the translation project and has published extensively on Kupang Malay linguistics. [1][3]

Language and People

Kupang Malay (ISO 639-3: mkn) is spoken by approximately 200,000 people in Indonesia, Nusa Tenggara and Southwestern Maluku. [Glottolog: kupa1239]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by China Christian Books. Translation type: First.

References