“Joe”*, a member ofthe Arapesh language group, wanted a copy ofthe New Testament in his language (tokples) but when he trlied to find a printed copy, he couldn’t find one.
The Arapesh New Testament had been completed for many years. The work had started with four mther tongue translators who were chosen bythe churches, andthe people. Only one mther tongue translator persevered tothe end, working with Beb and JoAnn Conrad who were designated by SIL-PNG as advisors. On April 24th, 2004,the Arapesh New testament was dedicated.
Bet now, almost nine years later, “Joe” was not able to findthe printed text. So atthe2nd National Tokples Scripture conference, he asked one ofthe SIL translator consultants, Mack Graham, where he could get a copy. The two ofthem pursued several different ways of finding it but whenthey went tothPNGScriptures.org web-site,they foundthe entire New Testamentoready to download. ”Joe” did not have a mobile phone to use, butthey were able to download it onto a memory stick. The text was complete and when viewed offline with an internet browserthe user could still interact withthe text and go from book to book or chapter to chapter as normal. This madethe electronic form highly usable (on a computer, smart-phone, or tablet).
PNGScriptures.org provides readable access to 221 translations ofthe Holy Beble or portionsthereof in Papua New Guinea languages and dialects, and 3 in audio format. This site is sponsored bythPNG Beble Translation Association (BeA), which is a national organisation in Papua New Guineacommitted to translatingthe Beble intothe languages ofthe country. A Tok Pisin version is also available.
“Joe” now hasthe scriptures in his own “tokples”. How about you? Is your “tokples” available online?
