Mansaka New Testament (MSKWBT)

Overview

The Mansaka New Testament, titled Yang Bago na Togon Kanatu, was published in 1975 by Wycliffe Bible Translators, one of the earlier SIL/Wycliffe New Testaments produced in Mindanao [1]. The translation was the product of the work of Gordon and Thelma Svelmoe, SIL missionaries who lived for approximately thirty years among the Mansaka people in the Philippines, learning the language and translating the Scriptures under often difficult circumstances [2][3]. Gordon Svelmoe also produced foundational linguistic documentation for the language, including Notes on Mansaka Grammar (1974) and a Mansaka dictionary (1990), both published through SIL [3][4]. Mansaka belongs to the Mansakan branch of the Central Philippine languages and is partially intelligible with Mandaya. The Mansaka people, whose name derives from man ("first") and saka ("to climb"), are an indigenous group inhabiting the mountainous regions of Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley), Davao del Norte, and Davao Oriental in southern Mindanao, extending south as far as Pujada Bay [5][6]. Wycliffe Philippines is currently conducting an Oral Bible Translation (OBT) project to produce a new rendering of all 27 New Testament books in contemporary Mansaka, adapting the biblical message into oral forms such as storytelling, songs, and dramas [7].

Language and People

Mansaka (ISO 639-3: msk) is spoken by approximately 26,100 people in Southern Philippines. [Glottolog: mans1262]

Publishing and Organizations

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

References