Rikbaktsa New Testament (RKBWBT)

Overview

The Rikbaktsa New Testament, titled Deus Harere Aibaky Sesus mymyspirikpoko naha, is a translation of the New Testament into the Rikbaktsa language, spoken by an indigenous people of the Juruena River basin in northwestern Mato Grosso, Brazil [1]. The Rikbaktsa (meaning "the human beings" in their language) are also known locally as Canoeiros ("Canoe People") and historically occupied a territory of approximately 50,000 km2 across the Juruena, Arinos, and Sangue river systems [1][2]. First contacted in the late 1940s by rubber tappers, the Rikbaktsa experienced devastating population losses -- an estimated 70% died from introduced diseases following contact that was mediated by Jesuit missionaries in the 1950s and 1960s [2][3]. The language, classified as either a distinct branch of the Macro-Ge family or a language isolate, is now endangered with younger generations increasingly shifting to Portuguese [1]. The New Testament was first published in 2000 and reissued in 2011 by Wycliffe Bible Translators, with translation work done in partnership with the Bible League of Brazil [4].

Language and People

Rikbaktsa (ISO 639-3: rkb) is spoken by approximately 910 people in Central Brazil. [Glottolog: rikb1245]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

References