The Christmas Story in Teochew
This version of the story of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:4-14) comes from an 1892 translation of the Four Gospels and Book of Acts in romanized Teochew, published by Presbyterian missionaries from Britain.
The two main groups of Protestant missionaries in the Teochew / Swatow region were American Baptists and the Presbyterians. The Baptists produced a Bible translation using Chinese characters, whereas the Presbyterians published their own with romanized Teochew. According to Snow and Chen (2015), this reflected different attitudes on how best to deal with the vernacular Teochew language, which does not have a standard written form in Chinese characters, which they represent as more “culturally conservative” (using characters) vs. “much more radical” (using only romanization). Nonetheless, the romanized text is still “bookish” in its vocabulary and style.
The romanization also preserves some older features of pronunciation that changed between the 19th and 20th centuries. Most noticeably, in the 19th century there were still syllables ending in [-in] in Teochew, which are mostly pronounced as [-ing] today (e.g. “in” 𪜶 “they/them” vs. “ing1”), and some syllables ending in [-t], which now are pronounced [-g] (e.g. “jit” 日 “day” vs. “rig8”). Such historical changes in Teochew pronunciation have mostly been documented in romanized missionary texts (Xu, 2013).
In the following extract, the original romanization is given first, followed by the modern Teochew Peng’im (modern pronunciation with citation tones), a rendering of the Teochew in Chinese characters, and an English translation (King James Version), as well as vocabulary notes.
Source: [no author listed] (1892). Kiù-Tsú Iâ-sou Ki-tok kâi Sin-ieh Tshuân-tsṳ : chiēⁿ-kńg Má-thài kàu Sài-thû [Matthew to Acts: Swatow Dialect]. Su-kat-lân: Tái Eng-kok Lãi Gūa Siàⁿ-tsṳ-hũe ìn [Glasgow: British and Foreign Bible Society]. Online
4 Iak-sek sĩ so̍k Tã-phek kâi ke-tso̍k, kù-tshṳ́ iā tshông-tō Ka-lĩ-lĩ Ná-sat-le̍k kâi siâⁿ-ip khṳ̀ Iû-thài, kàu Tã-phek kâi siâⁿ-ip, miâⁿ kiè-tsò Pek-lĩ-hêng,
4 Iag4(8)sêg4 si6(7) sog8(4) Da6(7)pêg4 gai5(7) gi1zog8, gu3(2)ce2(6) ia7 cong5(7)do6(7) Ga1li3(2)li3(2) Na2(6)sag4(8)lêg8 gai5(7) sian5(7)ib4 ke3(2) Iu5(7)tai6, gao3(2) Da6(7)pêg4 gai5(7) sian5(7)ib4, mian5 giê3(2)zo3(2) Bêg4(8)li3(2)hêng5,
4 約瑟 是 屬 大衛 個 枝族，故此 也 從 在 加利利 拿撒勒 個 城邑 去 猶太，到 大衛 個 城邑，名 叫做 伯利恆，
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Iag4sêg4 約瑟 – Joseph
Da6pêg4 大衛 – David; the Chinese characters used in the Mandarin Bible version are given instead, although their Teochew pronunciation is different.
Ga1li3li3 加利利 – Gallilee
Na2sag4lêg8 拿撒勒 – Nazareth
Iu5tai6 猶太 – Judaea
sian5ib4 城邑 – city, district
Bêg4li3hêng5 伯利恆 – Bethlehem
5 kāng i só tiāⁿ-phiàⁿ kâi chhi, Má-lī-a, teng-kì mîn-chiã; hṳ́-kâi sî-hāu Má-lĩ-a iⁿ-keng ũ sin-hūn.
5 gang1 i1 so2(6) dêng6(7)pian3 gai5 ci1, Ma2(6)li6(7)a1, dêng1gi3(2) ming5(7)zia6, he2(7)gai5 si5(7)hao7 Ma2(6)li6(7)a1 in2(6)gêng1 u6(7) sing1hung7.
5 共 伊 所 定聘 個 妻，瑪麗亞，登記 民籍，許個 時候 瑪麗亞 已經 有身份。
5 to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Ma2li6a1 瑪麗亞 – Mary
u6 sêng1hung6 有身份 – Teochew term for “pregnant”
6 I tõ-hṳ́-kò kâi sî-hāu, tú-ngõ i seⁿ-kiáⁿ kâi jit-khî kàu–liáu.
6 I1 do6(7) he2(7)go3 gai5(7) si5(7)hao7, du1ngo6(7) i1 sên1gian2 gai5(7) rig8(4)ki5 gao3-liao2.
6 伊 在許塊 個 時候，堵遇 伊 生囝個 日期 到了。
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 Chiũ seⁿ i thâu-tho kâi kiáⁿ, ēng-pòu lâi-pau I, pàng I u̍t tõ bé-tsô, in-ũi kheh-tiàm-lái bô khang kâi ūi-tshṳ̀ hó pun in.
7 Ziu7(6) sên1 i1 tao5(7)to1 gai5(7) gian2, eng7bou3 lai5(7) bao1 I1, bang3(2) I1 ug8(4) to6(7) bhê2(6)zo5, ing1ui6(7) kêh4(8)diam3(2)-lai5 bho5(7) kang1-gai5(7) ui7ce6 ho2(6) bung1 ing1.
7 就 生 伊 頭胎 個 囝，用布 來包 伊，放 伊 夗在 馬槽，因為 客店內 無 空個 位（置？） 好 分𪜶。
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
ing2 𪜶 – third person plural pronoun, contraction of i1nang5 伊儂
8 Tō hṳ́-kâi tī-hng ũ chiéⁿ-ièⁿ kâi nâng tõ khuàng-iá–kò siú mê-keⁿ chiéⁿ in-kâi iêⁿ-khûn.
8 Do6(7) he2(6)gai5(7) di7hng1 u6(7) ziên2(6)iên5 gai5(7) nang5 do6(7) huang1ia2(6)-go3 siu2(6) mê5(7)gên1 ziên2(6) ing1-gai5(7) iên5(7)kung5.
8 在 許個 地方 有 掌羊 個 儂 在 荒野塊 守 夜更 掌 𪜶 個 羊群。
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 Tsú che̍k-kâi sài-chiá khiã tō in–kò, Tsú kâi iông-kuang sì-ûi chiè–tie̍h in, chiéⁿ-iêⁿ kâi nâng tūa-tūa kiaⁿ-kũ.
9 Zu2 zêg8(4)gai5(7) sai3(2)zia2 kia6 do6(7) ing1ko3, Zu2-gai5(7) iong5(7)guang1 si3(2)ui5 ziê3(2)diêh8 ing1, ziên2(6)iên5-gai5(7) nang5 dua7dua7 gian1gu6
9 主 一個 使者 徛 在 𪜶塊，主個 榮光 四圍 照着 𪜶，掌羊個 儂 大大 驚懼。
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 Sài-chiá chiũ tùi-in tàⁿ, Mài-kiaⁿ; uá pò nín tūa huaⁿ-hí kâi kia-im, àiⁿ pìn-kip peh-sèⁿ chèng-nâng.
10 Sai3(2)zia2 ziu6(7) dui3(2)-ing1 dan3: “mai3(2)-gian1, ua2 bo3(2) ning2 dua7 huan1hi1 gai5(7) gia1im1, ain3(2) bing2(6)gib4 bêh4(8)sên3 zêng3(2)nang5.
10 使者 就 對𪜶 呾：「勿驚；我 報 恁 大 歡喜個 佳音，愛 稟給 百姓 眾儂。
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 In-ũi kim-jit tō Tã-phek kâi siâⁿ-ip ũi-tie̍h nín seⁿ Kiù-tsú chiũ-sī Tsú Ki-tok.
11 Ing1ui6(7) gim1rig8 do6(7) Da6(7)pêg4 gai5(7) sian5(7)ib4 ui5(7)diêh8(4) ning2 sên1 Giu3(2)zu2 ziu6(7)si6(7) Zu2-Gi1dog4.
11 因為 今日 在 大衛個 城邑 為着 恁 生 救主 就是 主基督。
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 Nín chiang-àiⁿ tshūe–tie̍h eng-jî pau-pòu, u̍t tõ bé-tsô, chiá-kâi chiũ-sĩ pun nín tsò kì-hõ.
12 Ning2 ziang1ain3(2) cuê7-diêh8(4) êng1ri5 bao1bou3, ug8(4)-do6(7) bhê2(6)zo5, zia2(6)gai5(7) ziu6(7)si6(7) bung1 ning2 zo3(2) gi3(2)ho7.
12 恁 將愛 揣着 嬰兒 包布，夗在 馬槽，者個 就是 分 恁 作 記號。」
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 Hut-jiên ũ thiⁿ-téng kâi kun-sṳ̃ che̍k-khûn kāng hṳ́-kâi sài-chiá tsò-pû tō–kò, sōng-tsàn Siãng-tì, chiũ tàⁿ,
13 Hug4(8)riêng5 u6(7) tin1dêng2-gai5(7) gung1se6(7) zêg8(4)-kung5 gang7 he2(6)gai5 sai3(2)zia2 zo3(2)bu5(7) do6-go3, song7zang3(2) Siang6(7)di3, ziu6(7) dan3:
13 忽然 有 天頂 個 軍士 一群 共 許個 使者 做垺 在塊，頌讚 上帝，就 呾：
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Tõ chiēⁿ iông-kuang kui tõ Siãng-tì,
14 “Do6(7) ziên6 iong5(7)guang1 gui1 do6(7) Siang6(7)di3,
14 「在 上 榮光 歸在 上帝，
14 Glory to God in the highest,
Tõ tī-mīn phêng-an, nâng tit-tie̍h ṳn-ài.
Do6(7) di7ming7 pêng5(7)ang1, nang5 dêg8(4)diêh8(4) eng1ain3.”
在 地面 平安，儂 得着 恩愛。」
and on earth peace, good will toward men.