Neasu New Testament — 黔西彝文新约

Overview

The New Testament in Neasu (黔西彝文新约) is the first scripture ever produced in this language. It was published in 2018 by the Research Foundation Language and Religion (RFLR) based in Nuremberg, Germany, in cooperation with local translator Pastor Liu Hui from Weining, Guizhou. The translation project ran from 1997 to 2017. 3,000 copies were printed in Hong Kong. The bilingual edition pairs the Neasu text with the Chinese Union Version. A free PDF and Android APK are available from RFLR's website, along with a print edition for purchase (ISBN 978-3-95776-092-0).

Note on full Bible status: Joshua Project records a "Complete Bible" (BibleStatus 5) for ISO yig. This appears to be a data error — the RFLR NT (2018) is the only confirmed scripture in this language; no Old Testament translation has been produced.

Language and People

Neasu (ISO 639-3: yig, classified as Wusa Nasu) is a Yi language spoken by approximately 500,000–600,000 people in Weining, Hezhang, Nayong, and Zhijin counties of western Guizhou, China. RFLR developed a custom romanized script for the language (1997–2006), as Neasu had no prior writing system. The language is distinct from standard Wusa Nasu/Wusa Yi, though both communities are assigned ISO code yig.

Publishing and Organizations

Published by VTR – Verlag für Theologie und Religionswissenschaft (Nuremberg), the academic imprint of RFLR. Copyright held by RFLR (語言宗教研究基金會).

References