Language Projects

In Tanzania Wycliffe is presently working in 26 languages across the country. The personnel working in these programs are sharing their expertise and experience with local citizens. They are fluent in Swahili and are involved in training more Tanzanians for the task of Bible Translation.

Among the languages in which we are working, there is a language cluster project in the Mbeya-Iringa Regions and one in infancy in the Mara Region. Within a cluster project local citizens will need to be trained and coached in all aspects of a language program in order to involve and serve several languages simultaneously. Learn more in our Bantu language cluster section.

Explore the exciting work that is going on in our language projects:

1. Alagwa
2. Burunge
3. Mara Cluster
4. Mbeya-Iringa Cluster
5. Mbugwe
6. Rangi
7. Sandawe
8. Sukuma
9. Temi
   

To learn more about the languages of Tanzania check out the People and Languages section. To learn more about the languages of Tanzania visit the Ethnologue.

Mar 21, 2019 Language identity sparks new research by linguists Written by Kenny G Originally 'clustered' together with Simbiti (a related language), the 30,000 people who speak Kiroba "have such a strong group identity" that linguists have begun to investigate the need for a specially adapted translation. Their latest research study began with a week collecting Kiroba words in the village of Nyabange... Read more...

Mar 20, 2019 New oral translation project begins in Ruwila community Written by Kenny G The Ruwila language community has begun translation work as part of the Katavi Cluster Project. After initial community partner planning meetings, the team decided to use Render, an innovative computer software for oral translation. Nine Ruwila speakers took part in a weeks-long workshop training for the task ahead... Read more...

Mar 18, 2019 "They heard Jesus speak in their own language" Written by Kenny G Eight more teams in Mbeya Cluster Project have completed script translation for the JESUS film. Several teams checked theirs with consultants. Others then tested with reviewers. "We are delighted with the success," said a member of one team, which held an actors' workshop and completed their recordings. When another team's actors watched their finished film together, it was a special moment. Read more...

Mar 14, 2019 Scripture engagement ignited by local listening groups Written by Kenny G Community interest in Scripture translation runs high when audio copies hit the streets. Since a listening group workshop in the Ikizu language area, families and friends are listening together, spreading fresh demand for more. After a training for church leaders in the Kwaya area, one pastor played Scripture on the church's sound system so the neighbors could hear. That's drawn a lot of attention, too... Read more...

Mar 13, 2019 Literacy growth fueled by five-way partnership Written by Kenny G School children in the Burunge and Rangi communities enjoyed literacy classes in their own language at simultaneous workshops. "It was fun to watch them follow in their new reading primers," said a guest from funding partner Wycliffe USA. Instructors from SIL taught the lessons at an after-school program operated by Compassion International...   Read more...