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INTRODUCING the PERANAKAN LANGUAGE New Testament! Reprinted after about 60 years for the first time by the Bible Society of Singapore!

Posted by Pastor Joseph on Jun 29th 2016

INTRODUCING the PERANAKAN LANGUAGE New Testament! Reprinted after about 60 years for the first time by the Bible Society of Singapore!

Baba Malay New Testament, Corrected Edition 

BMV252 Brown or Pink Cover / Perjanjian Bharu / a.k.a. Peranakan Language (Malay) Vinyl Bound – REPRINT  2007 /  According to some experts 8 million speakers!

by The Bible Society of Singapore


Baba is a form of Malay in use among settlers of Chinese descent, in the area of the Malacca Strait.  It is characterized by many Chinese borrowings.   First translations: 1891 Matthew  and revision in 1896 BFBS, Singapore.  This was followed by 1912 Acts  1913 New Testament BFBS, Singapore Translated by W.G.Shellabear, American Methodist Episcopal Mission.

Can be viewed here:  Brown

https://www.amazon.com/Testament-Corrected-Perjanj...

and  Pink 

https://www.amazon.com/Testament-Corrected-Perjanj...


[Preface] The Baba Malay New Testament was first published in 1913. It owed its existence to the labours of W. G. Shellabear, who had earlier translated the complete Bible in Malay. Since its publication, it had been in continuing use by the Peranakan Christians up to the present day. The term Peranakan literally means "descendants" or "locally born" in Malay, and refers to the descendants of Chinese immigrants to the Straits Settlements (which comprised Penang, Malacca and Singapore) and the Indonesian island of Java in or around the 17th Century. Baba Malay is, as its name suggests, related to the Malay tongue. However, it is distinct from the latter in that it had incorporated many words from Hokkien, English, Portuguese and Dutch into its vocabulary. It also has a simpler grammar and word order, having dropped many particles of proper Malay speech. Thus, the view that Baba Malay is properly a language in its own right is not without some basis. The use of Baba Malay is, sadly, in the wane, being limited to the older members of the Peranakan community. Indeed, the entire community is in serious decline because of the assimilation of their members back into the mainstream Chinese culture. Correspondingly, the demand for Baba Malay scripture had also dwindled. In light of that, why bother to reprint the Baba Malay New Testament? The reason is simply that there is a real need for it. At the moment, the Baba Malay New Testament is not available anywhere, for since 1950, it had been allowed to go out of print. The extant copies in the churches are worn and torn, and few copies are in private possesion. This reprint will ensure and adequate and fresh supply. We hope and pray this new issue of the Baba Malay New Testament, with corrections made to the text, will be cherished by member of the Peranakan community, and that it will facilitate the regular reading and study of the scripture which is God's Holy Word.