Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Conrad (Robert) Papers
MSS 0732
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Languages:
English
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Robert Conrad Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0732
Physical Description:
3.4 Linear feet
(1 archives box, 2 card file boxes and 2 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): ca. 1960-1990
Abstract: Papers and audio recordings of translator Robert Conrad document linguistic research on languages of Papua New Guinea, including
Mufian, Mountain Arapesh and other closely related Arapesh dialects, as well as research on the May River Iwam language.
Original recordings in the collection are restricted. Researchers must request user copies be produced.
Linguist and Bible translator Robert J. Conrad received his BA in mathematics from Reed College before attending Moody Bible
Institute and Summer Institute of Linguistics workshops. He later completed an MA in linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania.
From 1962-1965 and again from 1970-2004, Conrad and his wife Jo Ann lived in Papua New Guinea, working as missionaries and
Bible translators. They were first stationed in the May River area of Sandaun Province, where they worked with the Iwam-speaking
people. They later moved to the East Sepik Province, where they documented Arapesh languages of the Toricelli family, including
Mountain Arapesh (Bukiyip), Mufian (Southern Arapesh) and Filifita (a dialect of Mufian). In addition to grammars, vocabularies
and other linguistic works, the Conrads produced literary materials in vernacular languages. They translated the New Testament
and portions of the Old Testament into four Arapesh languages, resulting in published versions for Mufian (1988), Bukiyip
(1994), Filifita (1998) and Arapesh (2004).
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Robert Conrad Papers, MSS 732. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Acquired 2010.
Scope and Content of Collection
Papers and sound recordings document Conrad's linguistic research in Papua New Guinea, particularly for the Mountain Arapesh
(Bukiyip) and Mufian (Southern Arapesh) language. The collection is arranged in two series: 1) PRINTED MATERIAL and 2) RECORDINGS.
SERIES 1: PRINTED MATERIAL
The PRINTED MATERIAL series contains papers related to Conrad's linguistic research. These papers remain in the order in
which they were arranged and inventoried by the donor. Copies of donor's detailed inventory remain in each folder.
Materials include phonology material, transcripts of legends, loose texts and computer printouts of Bukiyip texts. These
Bukiyip texts were created from audio recordings of various adults in the Bubuamo area, recorded by Robert Conrad and transcribed
by Kepas Wogiga. The inventory copy contains a history of the project as well as an explanatory guide to reading the texts.
Loose texts were numbered and described by Robert Conrad. These texts contain stories, testimonies, and notes on grammar.
Maps from this group are stored in an oversize location.
SERIES 2: RECORDINGS
RECORDINGS include both audiocassettes and reel-to-reel recordings made by Conrad. The recordings are primarily in either
Bukiyip or Mufian languages, with few recordings in Iwam and Filifita. They include narrations of everyday events, myths and
other stories. A few of the recordings include music.
The titles of these tapes were taken from Conrad's inventory. The inventory - a copy of which is located in each box - contains
a more detailed description of the contents of each recording. The original recordings in the collection are restricted. Researchers
must request user copies be produced.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Anthropological linguistics -- Papua New Guinea -- 20th century
Bible -- Translating -- 20th century
Mountain Arapesh language
Bible -- Versions, Papuan
Mufian language
Iwam language
Anthropological linguistics -- Papua New Guinea -- East Sepik Province -- 20th century
Anthropological linguistics -- Papua New Guinea -- Sandaun Province -- 20th century
Conrad, Robert J. -- Archives