Bunuban languages explained

Bunuban languages should not be confused with Bunabun language.

Bunuban
Region:around Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley region
Family:One of the world's primary language families
Familycolor:Australian
Glotto:buna1274
Glottorefname:Bunaban
Child1:Bunuba
Child2:Gooniyandi
Map:Bunaban languages.png
Mapcaption:Bunuban languages (purple), among other non-Pama-Nyungan languages (grey)

The Bunuban languages (or Bunaban) are a small family of Australian Aboriginal languages spoken in northern Australia. The family consists of two languages, Bunuba and Gooniyandi, which are related to each other to about the same degree that English is related to Dutch. Bunuba has about 100 speakers and Gooniyandi about 400. Both are endangered.

Vocabulary

Capell (1940) lists the following basic vocabulary items:[1]

EnglishGunian
mangujɽäma juwulu
womanwiːji maŋo
headguŋgulu walu
eyemulu mɔːlu
nosewuɽa manili
mouthdjäläṉ daŋandi
tonguedjälän djäläṉ
stomachginiŋa djulu
bonegudju gudji
bloodgili wari
kangaroowandjiri wandjiri
opossumläŋgur djämbidjin
emuganaŋandja
crowwaŋgaɳa waŋgide
flyŋirinji ŋurinj
sungawara miri
moongilimana djaːlin
firewindäli weandi
smokebindja wangi
watergaɽwa gaːmba

References

Notes and References

  1. Capell, Arthur. 1940. The Classification of Languages in North and North-West Australia. Oceania 10(3): 241-272, 404-433.