Standard Indian Nagamese Bible (NAGISV)

Overview

The Standard Indian Nagamese Bible is a 2019 New Testament translation in Nagamese, produced by Bridge Connectivity Solutions Pvt. Ltd. as part of their Indian Standard Version (ISV) series. [1] The translation is released under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 license, making it freely available for distribution and adaptation. [1] It is distributed on YouVersion under the identifier "ISVNag". Nagamese is an Assamese-lexified creole language that has served since the 19th century as the primary lingua franca among the diverse ethnic groups of Nagaland in northeastern India, where over twenty indigenous Naga tribes speak mutually unintelligible languages. [2]

Language and People

Naga Pidgin (ISO 639-3: nag) is spoken natively by approximately 30,000 people, but used as a second language by an estimated 80-90% of Nagaland's approximately 2.2 million residents. [2] India, Map 5. [Glottolog: naga1394]

Nagamese developed as a pidgin language through contact between Naga hill tribes and Assamese traders in barter trade centers in the plains of Assam. [2] It expanded significantly after the 1930s, driven by missionary-led education and inter-tribal schools that used Assamese as the medium of instruction. [2] Although English is the official language of Nagaland, Nagamese functions as the socially neutral common language used in parliament meetings, religious gatherings, education, and healthcare. [2] Bridge Connectivity Solutions, the publisher, is an Indian technology company specializing in Bible translation and digital Scripture engagement across India's many language groups, distributing translations through the VachanOnline platform. [3]

References