Robert Conrad Papers, ca. 1960-1990

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Summary

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.
Extent:
3.4 Linear feet (1 archives box, 2 card file boxes and 2 flat boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Robert Conrad Papers, MSS 732. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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).

Acquisition information:
Acquired 2010.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Original recordings in the collection are restricted. Researchers must request user copies be produced.

Terms of access:

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Preferred citation:

Robert Conrad Papers, MSS 732. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Location of this collection:
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0175
La Jolla, CA 92093-0175, US
Contact:
(858) 534-2533
spcoll@ucsd.edu
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