Question cocerning the native term for god(s) and imported Christianity

[Chun Jimmy Huang]

Tabe (greetings),

I have been looking at a copy of Dutch-English-Siraya St. Mattew's 
for Siraya language revitalization (an indigenous Austronesian 
language in Taiwan). It was edited by the Dutch missionary Daniel 
Gravius in 1661. What I have found is that when translating the 
bible to Siraya, Gravius had kept the native term that referred to 
god in general, "alid," and used it to refer to the Christian god. 
Later I realized that the same applied to other indigenous 
languages in Taiwan. That is, the Presbyterian missionaries that 
came to Taiwan all kept the native terms for god(s) and 
incorporated them into their Christian missions.

Curiously, on the other hand, the Spanish Catholic priests who 
went to the Philippines around the same time had replaced the 
native terms for god(s) with "Dios".

so the different choices in terms of whether appropriating the 
native religious terms into Christianity or not (which may lead to 
significant sociolinguistic consequences). It makes me wonder if 
such difference in choice is pertinent to (Presbyterian) 
Protestant vs. Catholics and/or Dutch vs. Spanish.

I'd much appreciate if anyone can share some insights from the 
American experience or from other regions.

madag ki alilid (thanks very much)!

Chun (Jimmy) Huang
PhD candidate,
Linguistics, University of Florida
Special assistant,
Tainan Ping-pu Siraya Culture Association