Tumak New Testament (TMCBIV)
Overview
The Tumak New Testament is the first published literature in the Tumak language, dedicated on January 14, 1989, in Goundi, southwestern Chad [1]. Before 1976 the Tumak language was entirely unwritten. That year a Baptist Mid-Missions missionary linguist persuaded a young Tumak man named Samaita Daniel that his language could and should be written. Daniel went on to develop an alphabet, compile a dictionary, and translate the New Testament, completing the work in 1988 [1]. The translation established a written standard for the language; as one team member reflected, "The way it reads has established our language" [1]. The Tumak New Testament became deeply embedded in community life: residents read it at funerals and weddings, and audio versions are played through loudspeakers in marketplaces [1]. The original literacy primers produced alongside the translation required reprinting in 1996 due to overwhelming demand [1].
References
[1] Bibles International, "Tumak New Testament," https://biblesint.org/languages/tumak
Language and People
Tumak (ISO 639-3: tmc) is spoken by approximately 25,200 people in Southwestern Chad. [Glottolog: tuma1260]
References
- NT - Online text, Faith Comes By Hearing
- Audio Bible - Audio Bible, Faith Comes By Hearing
- NT - Online text, Faith Comes By Hearing
- ebible.org entry - ebible.org.