Ngunnawal language
Ngunnawal/Ngunawal is an Australian Aboriginal language, the traditional language of the Ngunnawal. Ngunnawal is very closely related to the Gandangara language and the two were most likely highly mutually intelligible. As such they can be considered dialects of a single unnamed language, but this is the technical linguistic usage of these terms and Ngunnawal people prefer to describe their variety as a language in its own right, as also do the Gandangara.[2]
Burragorang | |
---|---|
Ngunawal-Gundungurra | |
Onerwal Northern Inland Yuin | |
Region | New South Wales & ACT, Australia |
Ethnicity | Ngunnawal, Gandangara |
Pama–Nyungan
| |
Dialects |
|
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | Either:xul – Ngunawalxrd – Gundungurra |
Glottolog | nort2760 |
AIATSIS[1] | D3 Ngunawal/Ngunnawal, S60 Gundungurra |
ELP |
Classification
Gundungurra/Ngunawal is generally classified to fall within the tentative (and perhaps geographic) Yuin–Kuric group of the Pama–Nyungan family.[3]
Location
The traditional country of the Ngunnawal is generally thought to have extended from near Goulburn, west to Boorowa, south through Canberra, perhaps to Queanbeyan, and extending west to around the Goodradigbee River.[2]
Sounds
Bilabial | Apico-alveolar | Lamino-dental | Lamino-palatal | Dorso-velar | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stop | b | d | dh | dj | g |
Nasal | m | n | nh | nj | ng |
Trill | rr | ||||
Lateral | l | lj | |||
Approximant | w | y |
Front | Central | Back | |
---|---|---|---|
High | i, i: | u, u: | |
Low | a, a: |
Current status
The Ngunnawal community has for some years been engaged in work to revive the language with the aim being to bring it back into daily use within the community. They have been working with AIATSIS linguists to assist them with this work, and with identifying historical records that can be used for this work.[5]
Ngunawal words
Ngunawal | English | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Balbo | Kangaroo rat | [6] |
Bamir | Long | [7] |
Bargang | Yellow box | [8][9] |
Berra | Boomerang | [10] |
Bimbi | Bird | [9] |
Bimbiang | Shield | [11] |
Bindugan | Mussel | [12] |
Birrigai | To laugh | [13][14] |
Budyan | Birds | [15] |
Bunburung | Small lizard | [16] |
Bunduluk | Rosella | [17] |
Bunima | Blow (as wind) | [12] |
Burrai | Quick | [18] |
Burrum-bah | Where the kangaroo, the wallaby, bounces over the rocks | [19] |
Bural | Day | [20] |
Burin | Stringybark | [21] |
Dhangarn | Food | [22] |
Daramoolen | Dreaming | [12] |
Darwa | A transition for ceremony | [19] |
Dulwa | Casuarina trees | [9] |
Dyindan | Ring-tail possum | [12] |
Galu | Crane | [23] |
Gamburra | Flowers | [24] |
Gang-gang | Gang-gang cockatoo | [25][4] |
Giliruk | pee wee | [26] |
Ginninderra | Sparkling light | [27] |
Ginin-ginin-derry | Sparkling, throwing out little rays of light (possibly a description of a waterfall) |
[28] |
Gubbity | Pipeclay | [12] |
Gubur Dhaura | Red ochre ground | [29] |
Gudali | To hunt | [30] |
Guginya | Kookaburra | [30] |
Gula | Koala | [30] |
Gulwan | Younger sister | [12] |
Gummiuk | Bulrushes | [9] |
Gunyan | Slow | [31] |
Jedbinbilla | A place where boys become men | [13][19][32] |
Gurubun | Koala | [33] |
Kubbadang | Moon | [12] |
Karrugang | Magpie | [34] |
Kudyera | Fighting club | [35] |
Kanbarra | Meeting Place | |
Madi | Very | [12] |
Mulleun | Eagle | [36] |
Mulunggang | Platypus | [37] |
Mundang | Canoe | [38] |
Mundawari | Bandicoot | [39] |
Munjuwa | Tracks, Foot | [12] |
Mura | Pathway | [30][40] |
Mura gadi | Pathways for searching | [41] |
Murra Bidgee Mullangari | Keeping the pathway to our ancestors alive | [42] |
Murrung | Lizard | [43] |
Nangi | To see or look | [44] |
Narragunnawali | Alive/well-being/coming together | [45] |
Nengi Bamir | See far (view) | [9] |
Ngadyung | Water | [38] |
Ngunna yerrabi yanggu | You're welcome to leave your footprints on our land | [46] |
Nguru | Camp | [38] |
Pajong | Ngunnawal clan group | [12] |
Tuggeranong | Cold place | [47] |
Umbagong | Axe | [48][49] |
Walga | Hawk | [50] |
Wallabalooa | Ngunnawal clan group | [12] |
Warabin | Curlew | [51] |
Warrumbul | Youth | [52] |
Weereewa | Lake George (translates roughly to "bad water") |
[19][53][54] |
Wimbaliri | Drink | [12] |
Winnunga nimmityjah | Strong health | [55] |
Winyu | Sun | [56] |
Wirria | Tree goanna | [57] |
Woggabaliri | Play | [58] |
Yarrh | Running water | [59] |
Yeal-am-bid-gie | Molonglo River | [60] |
Yerra | Swim,[9] to fly like a bird[61] | |
Yerrabi | To walk | [62] |
Yerradhang | Eucalyptus Tree | [12] |
Yukkumbruk | Black Crow | |
Yumba | Eel | [63] |
wolway | waterfall | [64] |
Yuyu | Mopoke | [12] |
More words are compiled online in The Wiradyuri and Other Languages of New South Wales,[4] an article by Robert H. Mathews first published in the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute in 1904.
References
- D3 Ngunawal/Ngunnawal at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (see the info box for additional links)
- Koch, Harold (2010). "Aboriginal languages and social groups in the Canberra region: interpreting the historical documentation". In Baker, Brett; Mushin, Ilana; Harvey, Mark; Gardner, Rod (eds.). Indigenous Language and Social Identity: papers in honour of Michael Walsh. Pacific Linguistics. pp. 131–153.
- "AIATSIS Language and Peoples Thesaurus". Archived from the original on 19 March 2011.
- Robert Hamilton Mathews. "The Wiradyuri and Other Languages of New South Wales". Archived from the original on 11 October 2013.
- Marmion, Douglas (2015). "Bringing back the Ngunawal language". Australian Aboriginal Studies. 2: 65–69.
- "Balbo Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Bamir Square". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Bargang Crescent". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Public Place Names (Belconnen) Determination 2004 (No 1)" (PDF). 8 September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Berra Close". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Bimbiang Crescent". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Public Place Names (Ngunnawal) Determination 2013 (No 1)" (PDF).
- "Aboriginal connections to Tidbinbilla". Archived from the original on 10 May 2013.
- "Birrigai Square". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Budyan Court". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Bunburung Close". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Bunduluk Crescent". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Burrai Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Stories from Ngunnawal Country - Mount Ainslie - The Ngunnawal Peoples". Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013.
- "Bural Court". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Government Notices: Public Place Names Act 1989" (PDF). 14 April 1993. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2012.
- Extravaganza at Tidbinbilla, 2011, retrieved 10 October 2013
- "Galu Vista". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Gamburra Street". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Gang-Gang" (PDF). July 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2013.
- "Giliruk Crescent". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Middle School Ginninderra Award" (PDF). Burgmann Anglican School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2013.
- Doug Finlayson (4 May 2013). "Ginninderra Catchment Area Historical Notes".
- "Where The Future Meets The Past: Heritage Enshrined In Our Newest Park Featured". 19 April 2012. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013.
- Denise Sutherland. "The Canberra Puzzle Book". Archived from the original on 20 July 2008.
- "Gunyan Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Aboriginal Heritage and the Cultural Landscape of the ACT". Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Gurubun Close". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Karrugang Circuit". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Kudyera Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - "Mulleun Close". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Terry Browne (October 2008), AFP - Platypus A survival story
- "Public Place Names (Greenway) Determination 2004 (No 2)" (PDF). 8 September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Mundawari Circuit". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Mura® AIATSIS Collections Catalogue". Archived from the original on 24 September 2013.
- Fullerton, Jan. "Mura Gadi: Foreword". National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- "Ngarrindjeri, Ngunnawal and Ngambri come together for the river dance to maintain an important tradition". National Indigenous Times. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013.
- "Murrung Crescent". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Nangi Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Peace Park". National Capital Authority. Archived from the original on 12 February 2006.
- "Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture: exhibition opening". National Museum Australia. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Our School". Gowrie Primary School. January 2003. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013.
- "LANDCARE TOUR DE CREEK : GINNINDERRA CREEK". Archived from the original on 9 February 2012.
- Umbagong Landcare Group, Let's Discover Umbagong District Park (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2013
- "Walga Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Warabin Crescent". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Warrumbul Street". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Choreographic Fellowship options". Archived from the original on 15 June 2005.
- David Mackenzie (2013), Werriwa (Bad Water)
- Jane Belfrage (29 March 1989), Aborigines care for their health, against the odds, The Canberra Times (reproduced on Trove)
- "ATSIC News". 2002. Archived from the original on 10 May 2004.
- "Wirria Circuit". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- Australian Studies, archived from the original on 10 August 2013
- "Yass Valley Management Plan" (PDF). 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2011.
- Borders Of The Australian Capital Territory, retrieved 10 October 2013
- "Yerra Court". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Yerrabi Pond". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- "Yumba Avenue". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- Tredinnick, Mark (23 November 2015). Blue Plateau: A Landscape Memoir. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 9780702245497.
- Mathews, R. H. (July–December 1904). "The Wiradyuri and other languages of New South Wales". The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 34: 284–305. doi:10.2307/2843103. JSTOR 2843103.
https://aiatsis.gov.au/research/research-themes/ngunawal-language-revival-project