Burragorang
Ngunawal-Gundungurra
Onerwal
Northern Inland Yuin
RegionNew South Wales & ACT, Australia
EthnicityNgunnawal, Gandangara
Dialects
  • Ngunawal/Ngunnawal
  • Gundungurra
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
xul – Ngunawal
xrd – Gundungurra
Glottolognort2760
AIATSIS[1]D3 Ngunawal/Ngunnawal, S60 Gundungurra
ELP

Ngunnawal/Ngunawal and Gundungurra is Australian Aboriginal language, and the traditional language of the Ngunnawal and Gandangarra. Ngunnawal and Gundungurra are very closely related 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 and Gundungurra peoples prefer to describe their individual varieties as separate languages in their own right.[2]

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

Ngunawal consonants[4][5]
Labial Apico-
alveolar 		Lamino-
dental 		Lamino-
palatal 		Dorso-
velar
Stop b d d̪ ɟ g
Nasal m n n̪ ɲ ŋ
Trill r
Lateral l ʎ
Approximant w ɹ j
Ngunawal vowels[4][5]
Front Central Back
High i, iː u, uː
Low a, aː

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.[6]

Ngunawal words

Ngunawal words and phrases and English translations
Ngunawal English Ref.
Balbo Kangaroo rat [7]
Bamir Long [8]
Bargang Yellow box [9][10]
Berra Boomerang [11]
Bimbi Bird [10]
Bimbiang Shield [12]
Bindugan Mussel [13]
Birrigai To laugh [14][15]
Budyan Birds [16]
Bunburung Small lizard [17]
Bunduluk Rosella [18]
Bunima Blow (as wind) [13]
Burrai Quick [19]
Burrum-bah Where the kangaroo, the wallaby, bounces over the rocks [20]
Bural Day [21]
Burin Stringybark [22]
Dhangarn Food [23]
Daramoolen Dreaming [13]
Darwa A transition for ceremony [20]
Dulwa Casuarina trees [10]
Dyindan Ring-tail possum [13]
Galu Crane [24]
Gamburra Flowers [25]
Gang-gang Gang-gang cockatoo [26][4]
Giliruk pee wee [27]
Ginninderra Sparkling light [28]
Ginin-ginin-derry Sparkling, throwing out little rays of light
(possibly a description of a waterfall) 		[29]
Gubbity Pipeclay [13]
Gubur Dhaura Red ochre ground [30]
Gudali To hunt [31]
Guginya Kookaburra [31]
Gula Koala [31]
Gulwan Younger sister [13]
Gummiuk Bulrushes [10]
Gunyan Slow [32]
Jedbinbilla A place where boys become men [14][20][33]
Gurubun Koala [34]
Kubbadang Moon [13]
Karrugang Magpie [35]
Kudyera Fighting club [36]
Kanbarra Meeting Place[citation needed]
Madi Very [13]
Mulleun Eagle [37]
Mulunggang Platypus [38]
Mundang Canoe [39]
Mundawari Bandicoot [40]
Munjuwa Tracks, Foot [13]
Mura Pathway [31][41]
Mura gadi Pathways for searching [42]
Murra Bidgee Mullangari Keeping the pathway to our ancestors alive [43]
Murrung Lizard [44]
Nangi To see or look [45]
Narragunnawali Alive/well-being/coming together [46]
Nengi Bamir See far (view) [10]
Ngadyung Water [39]
Ngunna yerrabi yanggu You're welcome to leave your footprints on our land [47]
Nguru Camp [39]
Pajong Ngunnawal clan group [13]
Tuggeranong Cold place [48]
Umbagong Axe [49][50]
Walga Hawk [51]
Wallabalooa Ngunnawal clan group [13]
Warabin Curlew [52]
Warrumbul Youth [53]
Weereewa Lake George
(translates roughly to "bad water") 		[20][54][55]
Wimbaliri Drink [13]
Winnunga nimmityjah Strong health [56]
Winyu Sun [57]
Wirria Tree goanna [58]
Woggabaliri Play [59]
Wolway Waterfall [60]
Yarrh Running water [61]
Yeal-am-bid-gie Molonglo River [62]
Yerra Swim,[10] to fly like a bird[63]
Yerrabi To walk [64]
Yerradhang Eucalyptus Tree [13]
Yukkumbruk Black Crow
Yumba Eel [65]
Yuyu Mopoke [13]

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

  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ "AIATSIS Language and Peoples Thesaurus". Archived from the original on 19 March 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d Robert Hamilton Mathews. "The Wiradyuri and Other Languages of New South Wales". Archived from the original on 11 October 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Barrett, Jim (2015). Gandanguurra : the language of the mountain people ... and beyond. Neville Bush Holdings Pty Ltd, Glenbrook, NSW. pp. 24–37.
  6. ^ Marmion, Douglas (2015). "Bringing back the Ngunawal language". Australian Aboriginal Studies. 2: 65–69.
  7. ^ "Balbo Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  8. ^ "Bamir Square". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  9. ^ "Bargang Crescent". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "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.
  11. ^ "Berra Close". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  12. ^ "Bimbiang Crescent". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Public Place Names (Ngunnawal) Determination 2013 (No 1)" (PDF).
  14. ^ a b "Aboriginal connections to Tidbinbilla". Archived from the original on 10 May 2013.
  15. ^ "Birrigai Square". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  16. ^ "Budyan Court". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  17. ^ "Bunburung Close". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  18. ^ "Bunduluk Crescent". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  19. ^ "Burrai Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  20. ^ a b c d "Stories from Ngunnawal Country - Mount Ainslie - The Ngunnawal Peoples". Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013.
  21. ^ "Bural Court". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  22. ^ "Government Notices: Public Place Names Act 1989" (PDF). 14 April 1993. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2012.
  23. ^ Extravaganza at Tidbinbilla, 2011, retrieved 10 October 2013[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ "Galu Vista". 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  25. ^ "Gamburra Street". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  26. ^ "Gang-Gang" (PDF). July 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2013.
  27. ^ "Giliruk Crescent". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  28. ^ "Middle School Ginninderra Award" (PDF). Burgmann Anglican School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2013.
  29. ^ Doug Finlayson (4 May 2013). "Ginninderra Catchment Area Historical Notes".
  30. ^ "Where The Future Meets The Past: Heritage Enshrined In Our Newest Park Featured". 19 April 2012. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013.
  31. ^ a b c d Denise Sutherland. "The Canberra Puzzle Book". Archived from the original on 20 July 2008.
  32. ^ "Gunyan Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  33. ^ "Aboriginal Heritage and the Cultural Landscape of the ACT". Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  34. ^ "Gurubun Close". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  35. ^ "Karrugang Circuit". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  36. ^ "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)
  37. ^ "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)
  38. ^ Terry Browne (October 2008), AFP - Platypus A survival story
  39. ^ a b c "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.
  40. ^ "Mundawari Circuit". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  41. ^ "Mura® AIATSIS Collections Catalogue". Archived from the original on 24 September 2013.
  42. ^ Fullerton, Jan. "Mura Gadi: Foreword". National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  43. ^ "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.
  44. ^ "Murrung Crescent". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  45. ^ "Nangi Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  46. ^ "Peace Park". National Capital Authority. Archived from the original on 12 February 2006.
  47. ^ "Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture: exhibition opening". National Museum Australia. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  48. ^ "Our School". Gowrie Primary School. January 2003. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013.
  49. ^ "LANDCARE TOUR DE CREEK : GINNINDERRA CREEK". Archived from the original on 9 February 2012.
  50. ^ Umbagong Landcare Group, Let's Discover Umbagong District Park (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2013
  51. ^ "Walga Place". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  52. ^ "Warabin Crescent". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  53. ^ "Warrumbul Street". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  54. ^ "Choreographic Fellowship options". Archived from the original on 15 June 2005.
  55. ^ David Mackenzie (2013), Werriwa (Bad Water)
  56. ^ Jane Belfrage (29 March 1989), Aborigines care for their health, against the odds, The Canberra Times (reproduced on Trove)
  57. ^ "ATSIC News". 2002. Archived from the original on 10 May 2004.
  58. ^ "Wirria Circuit". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  59. ^ Australian Studies, archived from the original on 10 August 2013
  60. ^ Tredinnick, Mark (23 November 2015). Blue Plateau: A Landscape Memoir. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 9780702245497.
  61. ^ "Yass Valley Management Plan" (PDF). 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2011.
  62. ^ Borders Of The Australian Capital Territory, retrieved 10 October 2013
  63. ^ "Yerra Court". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  64. ^ "Yerrabi Pond". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  65. ^ "Yumba Avenue". ACT Government. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.

https://aiatsis.gov.au/research/research-themes/ngunawal-language-revival-project

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