The Nalca language was an unwritten language until missionaries from the USA entered the area in the early 1960s. A literacy program was developed, and many people in the Nalca language group learned to read. Roger Doriot from the USA learned the language and completed the translation of the New Testament of the Bible in 2000.
Classification
Nalca belongs to the Eastern branch of the Mek languages, which is a family of closely related languages belonging to the larger grouping of Trans-New Guinea languages.
Geographic distribution
The Nalca language is spoken by about 16,000 people in the eastern highlands of West Papua.[2]
Rule, W. M.; Rule, J. E.; Cutting, R. (1972). Hmanggona Language of the Naltja Area. Irian Barat (A member of the Goliath Family of languages, previously called Kimjal by Mr S. Sadlier). Naltja; Statement of the Alphabet & Grammar.