Sea Island Creole English New Testament (GULWBT)

Overview

The Sea Island Creole English New Testament, known as De Nyew Testament, is a translation of the New Testament into Gullah, the creole language spoken by descendants of enslaved West Africans along the Sea Islands and coastal regions of South Carolina, Georgia, and northeast Florida [1]. The translation project began in 1979 under the leadership of Pat and Claude Sharpe, translation consultants with Wycliffe Bible Translators, who lived in the Gullah community first on Daufuskie Island and later on St. Helena Island [2][3]. After Pat Sharpe's death in 2002, David and Lynn Frank coordinated completion of the project [3]. The Gospel of Luke, titled De Good Nyews Bout Jedus Christ Wa Luke Write, was published separately by the American Bible Society in 1994, selling over 30,000 copies and becoming recognized as a significant factor in the renaissance of the Gullah language [3]; the Gospel of John followed from Wycliffe Bible Translators in 2003. After 26 years of translation work, the complete New Testament was unveiled on November 12, 2005, at the Heritage Days Festival on St. Helena Island and published by the American Bible Society, with the King James Version printed in the margin [1][3].

Language and People

Sea Island Creole English (ISO 639-3: gul) is spoken by approximately 390 people in Southeastern United States of America. [Glottolog: gull1241]

Publishing and Organizations

Created by American Bible Society. Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators USA. Translation type: First.

References