Martu Wangka Bible Portions (MPJBSA)

Overview

Mamamili Wangka ("The Father's Talk") contains approximately 75 percent of the New Testament and an abridgment of Genesis in Martu Wangka, a Western Desert language of Western Australia. [1] The translation was published by the Bible Society in Australia, with print editions appearing in 1999 and 2011. [1] Martu Wangka emerged as a composite language during the 1960s when several Western Desert groups, including the Manyjilyjarra, Kartujarra, Putijarra, and Wamman peoples, settled together at Jigalong and other communities in the Pilbara region. [2] Bible translation work in Martu Wangka was carried out between 1990 and 1998, with AuSIL (the Australian Society for Indigenous Languages, formerly SIL Australia) contributing linguistic expertise. [3] Martu Wangka is spoken by approximately 1,300 people in communities at Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Newman, and Nullagine. [2]

Language and People

Martu Wangka (ISO 639-3: mpj) is spoken by approximately 1,080 people in Australia. [Glottolog: mart1256]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by BS in Australia, Canberra.

References