Hanga Bible History (1)

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**List: Hanga Ministry

the Bible ( the Bible )
(Lu)Hanga...
"LuHanga is the Bantu language spoken by about 30,000 Hanga
tribesmen (known as Buwanga).   Closely related are the dialects
of the Kisa, Tsotso, and Marama tribes.   These speakers number
about 40,000 in all.   They are found in the region above Kavi-
rondo Gulf in southwestern Kenya, and are among the tribes
that make up the Luyia people.   LuHanga is placed with
LuNyore and OluLuyia in the Luyia, or Bantu-Kavirondo,
subgroup of the northern Bantu languages."
--1000 Tongues, 1972   [Info only]

HANGA--1000 Tongues, 1939   [Info only: n.d. John 3:16 unknown.]

"1914 Matthew BFBS, London
Translated by [Rev.] W. Chadwick, Church MS."
--1000 Tongues, 1972   [Info only]

"1916 Luke   1922 Matthew   Luke (revised)   Mark   John
1939 [n]ew [t]estament   BFBS, London
Translated by [Rev.] A. J. Leech, CMS, assisted by a committee."
--1000 Tongues, 1972   [Info only:
"1939" Mark 1:2 incorrect (k'yomunabii Isaya = prophet Isaiah).]

(Lu)Hanga-(Lu)Nyore Union (OluLuyia)...
"The Luyia people, who call themselves AbaLuyia, number some
15 Bantu tribes, living in the southwestern corner of Kenya,
above the arm of Lake Victoria which is Kavirondo Gulf.   The
numerous Luyia tribes spoke different Bantu languages and
rigidly maintained their individual tribal indentities.   However, in
the 1930’s a national consciousness arose, and, in seeking a form of
unity, they chose the name AbaLuyia for the entire people, and
OluLuyia as the common name for the languages and dialects
they spoke.   Thus this collective term includes the people and
languages of the following tribes: Nyore, Ragoli (Logoli),
Hanga, Isukha, Itakho, Kabras, Kakalelwa, Khayo, Marachi,
Marana, Nyala, Samia, Shisa, Tiriki, and Tsotso.   The Bantu
languages of these tribes, although generally grouped together
within a Luyia or Bantu-Kavirondo subgroup, vary considerably,
but in most cases preserve mutual intelligibility.

The New Testament had already been published in LuNyore,
LuHanga, and LuRagoli when, in 1942, it was decided to pre-
pare a translation of the Old Testament in a ‘Union’ OluLuyia
usage, which would attempt to serve speakers of all tongues of
the AbaLuyia.   The committee was faced with problems greater
than those the ordinary translator faces when he takes up the
challenge of restating God’s Words in another man’s language.
They had not only a translation, but a language itself to create.
Which of the many dialectal forms of grammar and vocabulary
should be followed?   On which pronunciation should the ortho-
graphy be based?   It was decided that Union OluLuyia was to be:

    Grammatically the usage of the central dialects (Wanga,
    Marana, and Shisa.)
    Written according to the pronunciation of the majority of
    the AbaLuyia.
    Composed of vocabulary in actual use by a majority of the
    tribes, and, where several phonetic variants were in use, be
    standard throughout.
The AbaLuyia were made accustomed to the new common
language and its orthography by printing articles in the one
vernacular newspaper, by publishing inexpensive books on
popular topics, and by distributing leaflets to schools, all in the
new orthography.

The first tentative Scriptures in OluLuyia were published in
1954, and work continues.   OluLuyia Scriptures are replacing
the LuHanga and LuNyore translations."
--1000 Tongues, 1972   [Info only]

"1954 Genesis   1956 Proverbs   1957 Isaiah
1960 1, 2 Samuel   Luke   1962 John   BFBS, London
1968 New Testament   Psalms   BS of East Africa, Nairobi
Translated by Leonora L. Appleby, Australian Church MS, with the
assistance of Jared Isalu and a committee.
"
--1000 Tongues, 1972   [Info only:
"1960" Luke 3:1-4 unknown.]

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