Cemuhi New Testament (CAMWBT)

Overview

The Cemuhî New Testament (Tii Iitihi: Élele Iitihi na mwo Coho) was published in 2018 by Wycliffe Bible Translators NZ on behalf of the local association Bii Popai Wâro, based in Poindimié, New Caledonia. [1] Cemuhî (also written Cèmuhî, Camuhi, or Tyamuhi) is an Oceanic, tonal Kanak language spoken in the Poindimié, Koné, and Touho districts on the northeast coast of New Caledonia's main island, with approximately 3,300 speakers. [2] Unlike most Austronesian languages, Cemuhî employs a contrastive three-register tone system — high, mid, and low — making it one of the few tonal languages in the Oceanic branch, a feature extensively documented by French linguist Jean-Claude Rivierre. [2] The language belongs to the Paici-Camuki cultural sphere (aire coutumière) and has no official status under French administration, though Marist missionaries developed a written transcription system for it in earlier decades. [3] The 2018 New Testament represents the first complete Scripture portion produced in Cemuhî and is accessible through YouVersion and eBible.org in digital form. [1]

Language and People

Cemuhî (ISO 639-3: cam) is spoken by approximately 2,050 people in New Caledonia. [Glottolog: cemu1238]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA. Translation type: First.

References