wfn.org | Translation of New Testament into Sami language completed

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

GENEVA, March 10, 1998 (lwi) - A new translation of the New Testament into
the northern Sami language was announced on Sami national day, Feb. 6. The
work, decided upon by the Norwegian Bible Society in 1986 and completed
last summer, was carried out in cooperation with the North-Haalogaland
diocese of the Church of Norway, the University of Tromsoe, and the Finnish
and Swedish Bible Societies.

The Sami Bible was first published in 1895. Since then, there have been
changes both in language and spelling, bringing about the need for a new
translation.

A project group, working group and reference group were established to do
the translation work. The project group was led by professor in the Sami
languages, Nils Jernsletten, with translator Britt Rajala, and theological
consultant Per Oskar Kjoelaas, all from Tromsoe. The reference group
included 20 - 25 members from Norway, Finland and Sweden.

There are about 30,000 speakers of northern Sami of which the majority live
in Finnmark County, Norway. Most of the others are in Finland, with a
smaller group in Sweden.

Translation of the Old Testament will begin next month.

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
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