Speakers of ten languages in the Ndop plain of Cameroon are involved in a Bible translation and literacy project in their languages. Literacy work has already started, enabling people to read and write in their mother-tongue for the first time.
A new day has dawned for 10 language groups on the Ndop plain in Cameroon. Alphabets have been developed, printed materials have been produced in most of them, and a literacy programme has started. Bible translation is under way in two languages, including Bambalang. Here is a page from the Bambalang Alphabet Book:
Alphabet Books are being developed in all ten languages, to show people how their alphabet works. One young man was amazed when he saw the Alphabet Book in Chrambo. “I never dreamed I’d see this in my language!”
The translators visited the nine Chrambo churches and read the story of the lost son. The excitement was tangible. People moved in order to see better, and clapped at the end. People are waiting for Scripture that they can understand, and for the chance to learn to read everything that is translated. It is marvellous seeing people gather round someone who is reading, so that they can hear, see and maybe try for themselves. They laugh with delight when they hear their language being read from a real book, or when they realise they are actually reading the language they speak every day!
But it’s hard for some people to imagine what it means to have God’s word in their language, when they have never seen anything in print before. By summer 2009 the translators want to see a committee in each language group taking responsibility for Bible translation. more
Take a look at an explanation of the Bambalang alphabet book, as well as many other similar stories in the latest edition of Words for Life.
One of Wycliffe’s Engage summer teams will be visiting the Ndop cluster translation project in August 2009 – find out more about the Engage teams if you’d like to be part of what God is doing in the Ndop plain!
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Tags: Alphabet, Bambalang, Bible translation, Cameroon, Literacy, Ndop
