ICMT 2025Collaborative Information for the Bible Translation Movement
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Chapter 2

Language group catalogs

A strategic organization of data to support decisions in the Bible translation movement in Brazil.

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Six catalogs, different questions

ICMT organizes language groups into six catalogs. Each catalog represents a strategic context and helps churches, agencies, and organizations identify opportunities, progress, and needs related to translation and access to Scripture.

The catalogs connect data to missionary action.

Methodological note

This classification serves a strategic purpose. It should not be used as an academic classification of language, dialect, vitality, or ethnic identity.

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Search by name, ISO code, catalog, country, or state.

Overview of the six catalogs

The catalogs support missionary decisions, research, collaboration between organizations, project prioritization, analysis of Scripture availability, gap identification, and mobilization of churches and partners.

  • Catálogo 1

    Catalog1 Highlight

    Groups with projects underway and/or that need new projects or research.

    View catalog

  • Catálogo 2

    Catalog2 National

    Non-indigenous groups of national relevance that don't fit into the other catalogs.

    View catalog

  • Catálogo 3

    Catalog3 Border

    Groups with a larger presence outside Brazil, but that also have a presence or use within Brazilian territory.

    View catalog

  • Catálogo 4

    Catalog4 Overlap

    Distinct communities that share the same language but present important cultural, social, dialectal, or translation-related particularities.

    View catalog

  • Catálogo 5

    Catalog5 Foreign

    Groups originating from other countries and present in Brazil, often related to migrants, refugees, and diaspora communities.

    View catalog

  • Catálogo 6

    Catalog6 Reference

    Records kept for reference, such as extinct languages, retired codes, or situations outside the active focus for new translation projects.

    View catalog

Which catalog should I consult?

Figure 2.1

Language groups cataloged by the ICMT Project

How are the 282 groups distributed across the six catalogs?

Total cataloged

282

language groups

Figures calculated from the official ICMT database (282 records). Catalog1 Highlight includes the Brazilian groups from Catalog4 Overlap.

Figure 2.1

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2.1 Catalog1 Highlight

Catalog1 Highlight brings together language groups at the center of missionary efforts for translation, access, and biblical engagement in Brazil.

112

highlighted groups

Characteristics

  • Daily use of the language in communities.
  • Significant presence on the national scene.
  • Attention from institutions, organizations, and researchers.
  • Concentration of projects and resources.
  • Potential for missionary impact.
  • Ongoing need for research.

ICMT's main strategic priority

This catalog identifies contexts where mobilization, investment, research, and collaboration can generate important progress in the short and medium term.
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2.2 Catalog2 National

Catalog2 National brings together non-indigenous language groups of national and social relevance.

Notable examples

  • Portuguese.
  • Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS).
  • Groups linked to immigrant communities.
  • Other national linguistic varieties or contexts.

Current editorial figure: 7 language groups.

Inclusion, accessibility, and urban engagement

The translation movement is not limited to indigenous or regional contexts. It also involves deaf communities, immigrant groups, and other audiences that need Scripture in suitable linguistic forms and formats.

Figure 2.2

Catalog2 National

Which Scripture formats already exist for groups of national relevance?

Catalog2 National

7

language groups

  • 4

    Print

    NT in print

  • 3

    Audio

    NT in audio

  • 4

    Video

    biblical text on video

Tap a language to see details.

The three indicators are independent and overlapping: the same language may have print, audio, video, or any combination. They should not be added together.

Figure 2.2

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2.3 Catalog3 Border

Catalog3 Border brings together language groups present in Brazil whose largest concentration of speakers is in neighboring countries.

Current editorial figure: 17 groups.

Countries featured in the report

  • Venezuela
  • Peru
  • Paraguai
  • Guiana
  • Guiana Francesa
  • Colômbia
  • Bolívia

Political borders don't limit languages and cultures

Many communities live in territories that span two or more countries. Collaboration between national and international organizations avoids duplicated effort and favors resource sharing.
ICMT's concept of Catalog3 Border should not automatically be confused with classifications used by other initiatives.

Figure 2.3

Catalog3 Border

Which groups cross Brazil's borders, and what already exists for them?

  • 17

    groups

  • 15

    with NT in print

  • 13

    with NT in audio

Print and audio are independent indicators and should not be added together. The header figures don't change when switching tabs.

Figure 2.3

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2.4 Catalog4 Overlap

Catalog4 Overlap brings together distinct communities that share the same language or ISO code, but that may show important differences in identity, use, social acceptance, dialect, translation, or publication.

Example

The same language may be used in different countries and communities, but that doesn't mean a single translation is automatically suitable or accepted in every context.

Strategic distancing

Because a general translation already exists, the community may stop receiving attention for new projects.

Low engagement

The community may not use the existing resource because it doesn't identify with it culturally or socially.

Tucano

  • Colombia
  • Brazil
  • Common ISO code: tuo

Culina

  • Peru
  • Brazil
  • Common ISO code: cul

How to analyze the sets

Records need to be analyzed together, without assuming every case forms just a pair of two rows. A single ISO code may have one record in Brazil, one external record, or two or more external records.

Why compare by sets

  • Dialectal variations.
  • Translation produced through another lingua franca.
  • Differences in identity.
  • Distinct translations.
  • Different spellings or symbols.
  • Differences in key terms.
  • Community acceptance.
  • Different availability of print and audio.

Figure 2.4

Catalog4 Overlap

Do communities that share the same ISO code have the same resources?

Catalog4 · Overlap

Brazil × external

Brazil (overlap1)

10

groups

10 with NT in print · 10 with NT in audio

External (overlap2)

11

groups

11 with NT in print · 11 with NT in audio

Total groups

Brazil10
External11

NT in print available

Brazil10
External11

NT in audio available

Brazil10
External11
Brazil in blue and external in orange; labels and figures always accompany the bars. Set totals are counted by common ISO code, not by row count.

Figure 2.4

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2.5 Catalog5 Foreign

Catalog5 Foreign gives visibility to languages originating from other countries and spoken by communities present in Brazil.

Current editorial figure: 12 groups.

Contexts

  • Migrants.
  • Refugees.
  • Displaced people.
  • Diasporas.
  • Multicultural communities.
  • Urban ministries.

Human mobility and access to Scripture

The translation and biblical engagement mission must also consider foreign communities living in Brazil.

  • Alemão

    deu

  • Inglês

    eng

  • Francês

    fra

  • Italiano

    ita

  • Japonês

    jpn

  • Coreano

    kor

  • Dari

    prs

  • Romani

    rmy

  • Espanhol

    spa

  • Ucraniano

    ukr

  • Kabuverdianu

    kea

  • Talian

    vec

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2.6 Catalog6 Reference

Catalog6 Reference brings together records kept for reference, but that are usually not part of the active focus for new translation projects.

Editorial figure for the overview: 123 records.

May include

  • Extinct languages.
  • Languages in sharp decline.
  • Retired codes.
  • Historical records.
  • Situations that require consultation before any planning.

Reference doesn't mean an absence of cultural value

Even when there's no indication for a new translation project, there may be opportunities for documentation, preservation, revitalization, education, or research.

Possible actions

  • Linguistic documentation.
  • Revitalization.
  • Cultural materials.
  • Educational materials.
  • Historical studies.
  • Specialized consultation.

These actions don't represent a priority for new translation projects.

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What you need to remember

  1. The catalogs serve a strategic purpose.
  2. Catalog1 Highlight concentrates the report's main analyses.
  3. Catalog2 broadens the view to inclusion and national contexts.
  4. Catalog3 shows that languages cross political borders.
  5. Catalog4 requires comparison between communities that share a language.
  6. Catalog5 considers migration and diaspora.
  7. Catalog6 keeps records for consultation and reference.

Source: ICMT 2025 Project — Collaborative Information for the Bible Translation Movement, Brazil.

Content adapted from the ICMT 2025 Report for a digital, mobile-friendly experience.

The information and visualizations are intellectual property. When sharing or using this content, please cite the source appropriately.