Worrorra Mark & Luke (WROBFB)

Overview

The Gospels of Mark and Luke in the Worrorra language, translated by Rev. James Robert Beattie Love (1889-1947) and published by the British and Foreign Bible Society in Perth, Western Australia, in 1943. ^[1] The original titles are “Wullunnu-wunia Mark nunya” and “Wullunnu-wunia Luke nunya.” Love was a Presbyterian minister who served as superintendent of the Kunmunya Mission (established 1912) in the Kimberley region of Western Australia from 1927 to 1940. ^[2] He was recognized as a linguist and anthropologist, earning a Master of Arts in linguistics from the University of Adelaide. ^[2] Worrorra was first systematically documented at Kunmunya in the 1920s and 1930s through Love’s linguistic and anthropological writings. ^[3] The publication date of 1943, during World War II, reflects the long gestation of the translation work that Love carried out during his years at Kunmunya. These are among the earliest Scripture translations in any Australian Aboriginal language from the Kimberley region.

Language and People

Worrorra (ISO 639-3: wro) is a critically endangered language of the Worrorran language family, historically spoken in the northern Kimberley region of Western Australia, from Collier Bay to the Prince Regent River. ^[3] As of recent estimates, approximately 7 speakers remain. [Glottolog: worr1237]

References

• [1] Wororra - Aboriginal Bibles. Digital availability and publication details.

• [2] Kunmunya Mission Western Australia - Odyssey Traveller. History of the Presbyterian mission and J.R.B. Love’s work.

• [3] Worrorra: a language of the north-west Kimberley coast - Mark Clendon. Linguistic description including historical documentation at Kunmunya.

• find.bible entry - find.bible. Bible catalogue entry for WROBFB.

• Global Bible Catalogue - Global Bible Catalogue entry.

• ebible.org entry - ebible.org.