The scientific research institution "Institute of Bible Translation" (IPB) has released a new book, the Taurat (Pentateuch), in the Balkar language.
Balkarians are the indigenous inhabitants of Kabardino-Balkaria. They speak the Karachay-Balkar language, which belongs to the Turkic language group.
According to the 2021 census, 274,000 people in the Russian Federation speak Karachay-Balkar. It has state status in two republics of the North Caucasus — Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Numerous native speakers, descendants of Balkarians and Karachays who survived deportation in the 20th century, also live in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Despite slight differences in spelling and alphabet, Karachays and Balkarians easily understand each other both verbally and in writing.
Earlier, the IPB translated the New Testament (2000), Ruth, Esther, the Book of Daniel (2020), and the Book of Jonah (2022) into the Balkar language. You can view all the translations on the IPB website.