Bible translations into Indigenous Australian languages

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Bible translations into Indigenous Australian languages date back to the 1800s, when missionaries translated the Bible into several Aboriginal languages. The practice has continued into the 20th and 21st centuries, with Australian Kriol becoming the first Australian language to have a complete Bible translation (completed in 2019). [1] [2]

Contents

By language

Currently, 54 Indigenous Australian languages, including two creoles and Plain English (intended to be easy for non-native English speakers in Indigenous Australian communities to understand). [3] Several have a complete New Testament, but only one (Kriol) has a complete Bible with both the Old and New Testaments.

Aboriginal languages

LanguageState/territoryStatus
Adnyamathanha Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Alawa Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Alyawarr Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Anindilyakwa Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Anmatyerr Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Awabakal Flag of New South Wales.svg  New South Wales Portions completed
Burarra Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament completed
Dhuwa-Dhaŋu'mi Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Dhuwaya Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Dieri Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament completed
Djambarrpuyŋu Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament completed
Djinang Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Eastern Arrernte Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed
Gälpu Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Translation started
Gamilaraay Flag of New South Wales.svg  New South Wales Portions completed
Garrwa Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Gumatj Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed
Gupapuyŋu Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Translation started
Gurindji Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Guugu Yimidhirr Flag of Queensland.svg  Queensland Portions completed
Kitja Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia Portions completed
Kriol Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory
Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia
Bible completed
Kukatja Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia Portions completed
Kuku-Yalanji Flag of Queensland.svg  Queensland New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed
Kunbarlang Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Kuninjku Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Kunjen Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia Portions completed
Kunwinjku Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed
Martu Wangka Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia Portions completed
Mawng Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Murrinhpatha Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Ndjébbana Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Ngaanyatjara Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia New Testament completed
Ngarrindjeri Flag of South Australia.svg  South Australia Portions completed
Nyangumarta Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia Portions completed
Nyungar Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia Portions completed
Pintupi-Luritja Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed
Pitjantjatjara Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory
Flag of South Australia.svg  South Australia
New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed
Plain English NationwidePortions completed
Rembarrnga Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Thayore Flag of Queensland.svg  Queensland Portions completed
Tiwi Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Walmajarri Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia Portions completed
Wangurri Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Warlpiri Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed
Western Arrarnta Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed
Wik-Mungkan Flag of Queensland.svg  Queensland Portions completed
Worrorra Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia Portions completed
Wubuy Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed
Yanyuwa Flag of the Northern Territory.svg  Northern Territory Portions completed
Yindjibarndi Flag of Western Australia.svg  Western Australia Portions completed

Torres Strait Islander languages

LanguageStatus
Kala Lagaw Ya Portions completed
Meriam Mir Portions completed
Torres Strait Creole New Testament and portions of Old Testament completed

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References