Kunwijku Bible (GUPBSA)

Overview

The Kunwijku Bible (God Nuye Kunwok) is a New Testament with Old Testament portions in the Kunwinjku language, officially dedicated on 1 August 2018 at Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) in western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. [1] The translation represents over 70 years of effort, beginning in the 1930s when Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionary Nell Harris, together with Kunwinjku women Rachel Maralngurra and Hannah Mangiru, translated the Gospel of Mark, sitting under a bark hut and translating five verses a day. [2] This first Kunwinjku Scripture was published by the Bible Society in 1942. [2] Progress stalled for decades due to government language policies and lack of missionary linguistic training. In 1965, CMS recruited Peter Carroll specifically as a linguist and Bible translator; he served at Gunbalanya from 1967 to 1979 and developed the Kunwinjku spelling system that enabled subsequent translation work. [2] Steve and Narelle Etherington returned as CMS missionaries in 1984 and spent the next 30 years translating the New Testament alongside Kunwinjku Christians. [1] Lois Nadjamerrek, who worked on the translation for over 20 years, was among the first to receive an advance copy. [1] Bible Society Australia partnered with CMS to provide translation consultants and publication support. [3]

Language and People

Kunwinjku, also known as Gunwinggu (ISO 639-3: gup), is spoken by approximately 2,130 people in western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. [4] It is one of the healthiest Aboriginal Australian languages still being actively transmitted to children. The language belongs to the Gunwinyguan family. Kunwinjku speakers are concentrated around the community of Gunbalanya (formerly Oenpelli). [Glottolog: gunw1252]

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Bible Society in Australia, in partnership with the Church Missionary Society (CMS Australia). [1] [3]

References