Cool rivers run in the Kinga highlands.
(Iringa Region, Tanzania) Linguistics
Cool rivers run in the Kinga highlands. (Iringa Region, Tanzania)
Before translation begins, the foundation must be properly laid with sound linguistic work. So far, in nine languages of the Mbeya-Iringa Cluster Project:
- Tentative orthographies have been developed.
- Drafts of grammar write-ups have been produced.
- Discourse analysis has begun.
- Alphabet charts, trial primers, and other materials using the new orthographies have been produced.
- Orthography testing has begun.
- Word lists have been started, with the goal of developing dictionaries.
- Phonology research is continuing.
Literacy
At least 25% of the population in Tanzania is illiterate according to the standard of UNICEF (Tanzania Statistics, 2000). Language development and a mother tongue literacy program have been started simultaneously with the Bible translation efforts, in partnership with the local churches. The literacy program is comprised of 3 steps:
- To transition Swahili literate or semi-literate people to read their mother tongue. They will also be the writers and teachers for the basic literacy program.
- To launch a basic literacy program.
- To transition people who are literate in their mother tongue to literacy in Swahili, the national language of Tanzania.
Translation
So far, translation has been finished in the following:
- Ruth - eight languages
- Jonah - eight languages
- Mark - six languages
- Philemon, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus - three languages
Work is continuing in the following:
- Mark - two languages
- Philemon, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus - four languages
- Acts - two language
- Matthew - one language
- Luke - six languages
- James - two languages
- 1 and 2 Thessalonians - one language
- John's epistles - one language
- Jude - one language
- Revelations - one language