Chile’s Romani people to have
New Testament in their own language

SANTIAGO, Chile — The Chilean Bible Society’s work with the country’s 5,000-strong Romani community has taken a number of different forms over several years. The most recent work in this field involves an ambitious translation project to bring the Word of God to the community in its own language.

For the Romani community, having the New Testament in their own language will be a very significant development, while for the Bible Society it is “an opportunity to answer a need from a people generally forgotten or ignored.”

The Romanies have frequently suffered discrimination, and remain marginalised from society, often unable to find work and forced to move constantly from place to place. They have also been unable to join mainstream churches, so have planted churches of their own and established separate church leadership structures. The Bible Society aims to address the Romanies’ isolation from mainstream Christianity by supporting the translation of the New Testament into Romani. This language remains strong, even though Romani children now have access to formal education, and there is a clear need for Scriptures in Romani.

It has already been possible to translate two Gospels, and to publish a few Selections, but translators Juan and Jorge Nicolich, Romani church and community leaders, have only been able to work in their spare time.

With the support of the Bible Society, they will now become full-time translators, supported by Carlos Hernandez as co-ordinator and exegete. The Nicolich brothers have attended a translation workshop to develop their skills, and will formally begin work in Villa Alemana, near the central resort town of Viña del Mar, in 2003. The project is due for completion in 2005.

For the Romani community, having the New Testament in their own language will be a very significant development, while for the Bible Society it is “an opportunity to answer a need from a people generally forgotten or ignored.” (WR 372/14 - 11.02)