p. 9 | Our Work in the Chasu Language by B. OHME

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 22, 1910

Our Work in the Chasu Language

By B. OHME

B. OHME

This year has been an eventful one for our work and people in the Pare district. Three books have been presented to them in their own language. The few who trouble themselves about this people often think that it is hardly possible for them to have a correct language. Such would be astonished if they would examine the Chasu, and see how beautiful, well-sounding, and artistic it is. They have a good selection of words, exact rules, plenty of proverbs, witty sayings, and metaphors. A thorough study of the language of the Pare people has shown us that we can express all our thoughts in it. Even the things which were quite strange to the native until civilization brought them to his view, find names in his language, so that it is not at all necessary to use foreign words for them.

The people have kept their language free from any impurity, and have guarded against the mixture of other tongues, which would spoil the beauty of it. We have therefore been careful, as we endeavor to convert the people to Christianity, not to introduce foreign words. It is possible for us to express all Bible and Christian thoughts and ideas in their own tongue.

In spite of its richness and purity, it had never become a written language. With the Lord's assistance we have been able to reduce it to writing; that is to say, with the help of the Latin letters, and the pronunciation of the natives, we have been able to write what is spoken, and have taught the black man to understand the signs on the paper, so that he himself can read and write his own language.

Thus we could give the people three books, knowing that the same would be of great assistance to us in our work of elevating them from sin, and helping them to learn those things which ennoble mankind.

We are glad to have a primer which we can use for the children as well as for the adults. This book has been prepared by Brother A. C. Enns. It is a neatly bound volume of eighty-eight pages, introducing the script, first, with pictures, which represent what is written; farther on are the printed letters, with names and easy sentences; then short stories to be read; proverbs, names of the days of the week, names of the months, etc.; and also the first multiplication tables. It is a book that has long been necessary for our teaching, and was received with much joy by the natives.

The composition of it was not so simple as might be expected, since so many of the consonants sound alike, and we had to use the intelligent young people as language teachers, so that we could have an exact representation of the spoken language in writing.

“Kitabu yedi yakwe Mateo,” the Gospel of Matthew, which has been translated by Brother E. Kotz into the language of the Vaasu (Vapare), is a book that will be of the greatest use to us in teaching, as well as a good text-book for the native teachers. It will also be a great help in the daily worship of our native Christians. The people have gladly welcomed this little book. It will be spiritual food for them.

We hope soon to have a fourth book in this language; namely, the whole of the New Testament, which Brother E. Kotz is translating. May the Lord shower his richest blessing on these books and the teachers, that all the Vapare may hear that the Saviour died to redeem the heathen. And may they have the privilege of being heirs with him, according to his promise.

Post Schirati, Victoria Nyanza, German East Africa.