Biblia Tokodede — Tukudede Scripture Portions (Timor-Leste)
Overview
Biblia Tokodede ("The Bible in Tokodede / Tukudede") is a scripture portion in the Tukudede (Tocod) language of Liquiçá District, Timor-Leste, published by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 4241). The community's autonym Tocod differs from the scholarly designation Tukudede, though both refer to the same Austronesian language. Tukudede is one of the nationally recognized languages of Timor-Leste — a country with extraordinary linguistic diversity for its size, with over 30 distinct languages classified in 16 official national languages under the 2002 constitution. Tukudede is spoken primarily in Liquiçá District (Líkisá), west of Dili, and is one of the country's larger minority languages.
Language and People
Tukudede (ISO 639-3: tkd; autonym: Tocod) is an Austronesian language: Austronesian → Malayo-Polynesian → Central Malayo-Polynesian → Timor-Babar branch. The Timor-Babar branch includes the indigenous non-Malay Austronesian languages of Timor-Leste and adjacent eastern Indonesian islands (Rote, Savu, Alor, etc.). Tukudede is related to other national languages of Timor-Leste including Mambae, Tetum (the co-official language), Kemak (KEMWBT), and others. The Timor-Babar languages are distinct from the non-Austronesian (Papuan) languages of Timor-Leste such as Makasae, Bunak, and Makalero.
The Tukudede community inhabits:
- Liquiçá District (Líkisá), northwestern Timor-Leste — on the coast west of Dili
- Parts of Ermera District and the outskirts of Dili (the capital)
Estimated speakers: approximately 60,000–80,000 (one of the larger indigenous languages of Timor-Leste; Tukudede is recognized as a working language of Liquiçá District administration).
Cultural Context
Tukudede speakers inhabit the coastal and hill zones of northwestern Timor-Leste, in a region with a history of both Portuguese colonial presence and significant conflict during the Indonesian occupation (1975–1999). The Catholic Church plays a dominant role in Timorese cultural and community life; virtually all Timorese — including Tukudede speakers — are Catholic. The post-independence national language policy (Tetum and Portuguese as official languages; national languages including Tukudede) has shaped scripture translation priorities. Wycliffe's Tukudede translation complements similar work in related Timorese languages (see also KEMWBT for Kemak, another Timorese language).
Publishing and Organizations
Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. (wycliffe.org), the world's largest Bible translation organization, founded 1942 by Cameron Townsend.