Ngunnawal language explained

Burragorang
Also Known As:	Ngunawal-Gundungurra
Nativename:	Onerwal Northern Inland Yuin
Region:	New South Wales & ACT, Australia
Ethnicity:	Ngunnawal, Gandangara
Familycolor:	Australian
Fam1:	Pama–Nyungan
Fam2:	Yuin–Kuric
Fam3:	Yuin
Dia1:	Ngunawal/Ngunnawal
Dia2:	Gundungurra
Lc1:	xul
Ld1:	Ngunawal
Lc2:	xrd
Ld2:	Gundungurra
Aiatsis:	D3
Aiatsisname:	Ngunawal/Ngunnawal
Aiatsis2:	S60
Aiatsisname2:	Gundungurra
Glotto:	nort2760
Glottorefname:	Northern Inland Yuin
Speakers2:	80 (2014, Gundungurra)
Speakers:	0 (Ngunnawal)
Revived:	revival efforts for both languages

Ngunnawal/Ngunawal and Gundungurra are Australian Aboriginal languages, and the traditional languages 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.^[1]

Classification

Gundungurra/Ngunawal is generally classified to fall within the tentative (and perhaps geographic) Yuin–Kuric group of the Pama–Nyungan family.^[2]

Location

The traditional country of the Ngunnawal people is generally thought to have extended east near Goulburn, North to Boorowa, south through Canberra, perhaps even to Queanbeyan, and extending west to around the Goodradigbee River.

Phonology

Ngunawal consonants^[3] !! 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

• Retroflex sounds [ɖ, ɳ, ɭ] may have also been recorded in limited distribution.
• Stops /b, d, ɟ, ɡ/ may also be heard as voiceless [p, t, c, k] when in word-final or syllable-final positions.
• /ɹ/ may have also been heard as [ɻ].^[4]

Ngunawal vowels! !! 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.^[5]

Ngunawal words

Ngunawal words and phrases and English translations

Ngunawal	English	Ref.
Balbo	Kangaroo rat	^[6]
Bamir	Long	^[7]
Bargang	Yellow box	^[8] ^[9]
Berra	Boomerang	^[10]
Bimbi	Bird
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)
Burrai	Quick	^[18]
Burrum-bah	Where the kangaroo, the wallaby, bounces over the rocks
Bural	Day	^[19]
Burin	Stringybark	^[20]
Dhangarn	Food
Daramoolen	Dreaming
Darwa	A transition for ceremony
Dulwa	Casuarina trees
Dyindan	Ring-tail possum
Galu	Crane	^[21]
Gamburra	Flowers	^[22]
Gang-gang	Gang-gang cockatoo	^[23]
Giliruk	pee wee	^[24]
Ginninderra	Sparkling light	^[25]
Ginin-ginin-derry	Sparkling, throwing out little rays of light (possibly a description of a waterfall)	^[26]
Gubbity	Pipeclay
Gubur Dhaura	Red ochre ground	^[27]
Gudali	To hunt	^[28]
Guginya	Kookaburra
Gula	Koala
Gulwan	Younger sister
Gummiuk	Bulrushes
Gunyan	Slow	^[29]
Jedbinbilla	A place where boys become men	^[30] ^[31]
Gurubun	Koala	^[32]
Kubbadang	Moon
Karrugang	Magpie	^[33]
Kudyera	Fighting club	^[34]
Kanbarra	Meeting Place
Madi	Very
Mulleun	Eagle	^[35]
Mulunggang	Platypus
Mundang	Canoe	^[36]
Mundawari	Bandicoot	^[37]
Munjuwa	Tracks, Foot
Mura	Pathway	^[38]
Mura gadi	Pathways for searching	^[39]
Murra Bidgee Mullangari	Keeping the pathway to our ancestors alive	^[40]
Murrung	Lizard	^[41]
Nangi	To see or look	^[42]
Narragunnawali	Alive/well-being/coming together	^[43]
Nengi Bamir	See far (view)
Ngadyung	Water
Ngunna yerrabi yanggu	You're welcome to leave your footprints on our land	^[44]
Nguru	Camp
Pajong	Ngunnawal clan group
Tuggeranong	Cold place	^[45]
Umbagong	Axe	^[46]
Walga	Hawk	^[47]
Wallabalooa	Ngunnawal clan group
Warabin	Curlew	^[48]
Warrumbul	Youth	^[49]
Weereewa	Lake George (translates roughly to "bad water")	^[50]
Wimbaliri	Drink
Winnunga nimmityjah	Strong health
Winyu	Sun	^[51]
Wirria	Tree goanna	^[52]
Woggabaliri	Play
Wolway	Waterfall	^[53]
Yarrh	Running water	^[54]
Yeal-am-bid-gie	Molonglo River
Yerra	Swim, to fly like a bird^[55]
Yerrabi	To walk	^[56]
Yerradhang	Eucalyptus Tree
Yukkumbruk	Black Crow
Yumba	Eel	^[57]
Yuyu	Mopoke

More words are compiled online in The Wiradyuri and Other Languages of New South Wales,^[3] an article by Robert H. Mathews first published in the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute in 1904.

References

• Mathews, R. H. . Jul–Dec 1904 . The Wiradyuri and other languages of New South Wales . The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland . 34 . 284–305 . 10.2307/2843103 . Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland . 2843103. R. H. Mathews .

External links

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

Notes and References

1. Book: Aboriginal languages and social groups in the Canberra region: interpreting the historical documentation . Koch . Harold . 2010 . Indigenous Language and Social Identity: papers in honour of Michael Walsh . Baker . Brett . Mushin . Ilana . Harvey . Mark . Gardner . Rod . . 131–153.
2. Web site: AIATSIS Language and Peoples Thesaurus. https://web.archive.org/web/20110319201446/http://www1.aiatsis.gov.au/thesaurus/language/mtw.exe?k=default&l=60&s=1&n=1&y=0&w=Ngunawal%2B%2F%2BNgunnawal%2Blanguage%2B%28D3%29%2B%28NSW%2BSI55%2D16%29&t=3. 19 March 2011.
3. Web site: The Wiradyuri and Other Languages of New South Wales. https://archive.today/20131011230749/http://www.green-ebook-shop.com/ebooks/1/8/9/7/18978/18978.html. dead. 2013-10-11. Robert Hamilton Mathews.
4. Book: Barrett, Jim . Gandanguurra : the language of the mountain people ... and beyond . Neville Bush Holdings Pty Ltd, Glenbrook, NSW . 2015 . 24–37.
5. Bringing back the Ngunawal language . Marmion . Douglas . Douglas Marmion . . 2015 . 2 . 65–69.
6. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Balbo Place.
7. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Bamir Square.
8. Web site: Bargang Crescent. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013.
9. Web site: Public Place Names (Belconnen) Determination 2004 (No 1). https://web.archive.org/web/20120716201543/http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2004-216/current/pdf/2004-216.pdf. 16 July 2012. 8 September 2004. 10 October 2013.
10. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Berra Close.
11. Web site: Bimbiang Crescent. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013.
12. Web site: Public Place Names (Ngunnawal) Determination 2013 (No 1).
13. Web site: Aboriginal connections to Tidbinbilla. 10 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130510121517/http://www.tidbinbilla.com.au/learn/tidbinbilla/indigenousculture/.
14. Web site: Birrigai Square. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013.
15. Web site: Budyan Court. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013.
16. Web site: Bunburung Close. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013.
17. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Bunduluk Crescent.
18. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Burrai Place.
19. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Bural Court.
20. Web site: Government Notices: Public Place Names Act 1989. https://web.archive.org/web/20120716201612/http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/1993-36/current/pdf/1993-36.pdf. 16 July 2012. 14 April 1993.
21. Web site: Galu Vista. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013.
22. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Gamburra Street.
23. Web site: Gang-Gang. https://web.archive.org/web/20130515102654/http://www.canberrabirds.org.au/gg05jul_files/July%202005%20Gang-gang.pdf. 15 May 2013. July 2005.
24. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Giliruk Crescent.
25. Web site: Middle School Ginninderra Award. Burgmann Anglican School. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131010074437/http://www.burgmann.act.edu.au/srcfiles/Ginninderra-Award---booklet.pdf. 10 October 2013.
26. Web site: Ginninderra Catchment Area Historical Notes. 4 May 2013. Doug Finlayson.
27. Web site: Where The Future Meets The Past: Heritage Enshrined in Our Newest Park Featured . 19 April 2012. 14 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130414090640/http://ourlanguages.net.au/news/act/item/503-where-the-future-meets-the-past-heritage-enshrined-in-our-newest-park.html.
28. Web site: The Canberra Puzzle Book. https://web.archive.org/web/20080720033448/http://www.sutherland-studios.com.au/puzzles/canberra.html. 20 July 2008. Denise Sutherland.
29. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Gunyan Place.
30. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20130826143348/http://deewr.gov.au/videos/stories-ngunnawal-country-mount-ainslie-ngunnawal-peoples. Stories from Ngunnawal Country - Mount Ainslie - The Ngunnawal Peoples. Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. 26 August 2013.
31. Web site: Aboriginal Heritage and the Cultural Landscape of the ACT. https://archive.today/20131011230836/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/caring_for_ngunnawal_country/aboriginal_heritage_and_cultural_landscape. dead. 11 October 2013. 10 October 2013.
32. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Gurubun Close.
33. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Karrugang Circuit.
34. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 11 October 2013. Kudyera Place. bot: unknown. https://archive.today/20131011230744/http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/tools_resources/place_search2?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkYyMDMuOS4yNDkuMyUyRlBsYWNlTmFtZXMlMkZQbGFjZURldGFpbHMuYXNweCUzRm9iamVjdElEJTNEODMzOCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D. 11 October 2013.
35. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 11 October 2013. Mulleun Close. bot: unknown. https://archive.today/20131011230837/http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/tools_resources/place_search2?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkYyMDMuOS4yNDkuMyUyRlBsYWNlTmFtZXMlMkZQbGFjZURldGFpbHMuYXNweCUzRm9iamVjdElEJTNEOTA4NiZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D. 11 October 2013.
36. Web site: Public Place Names (Greenway) Determination 2004 (No 2). https://web.archive.org/web/20120716201532/http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2004-217/current/pdf/2004-217.pdf. 16 July 2012. 8 September 2004. 10 October 2013.
37. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Mundawari Circuit.
38. Web site: Mura® AIATSIS Collections Catalogue. https://web.archive.org/web/20130924085013/http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/collections/faq.html. 24 September 2013.
39. Web site: Fullerton. Jan. Jan Fullerton. Mura Gadi: Foreword. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120327072256/http://www.nla.gov.au/muragadi/foreword.html. 27 March 2012. 2021-04-05. National Library of Australia.
40. News: National Indigenous Times. Ngarrindjeri, Ngunnawal and Ngambri come together for the river dance to maintain an important tradition. 9 October 2013. dead. https://archive.today/20131014014207/http://www.nit.com.au/news/3338-ngarrindjeri-ngunnawal-and-ngambri-come-together-for-the-river-dance-to-maintain-an-important-tradition.html. 14 October 2013.
41. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Murrung Crescent.
42. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Nangi Place.
43. Web site: Peace Park. https://web.archive.org/web/20060212104458/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/understanding/capital_facts/peace_park.asp. 12 February 2006. National Capital Authority.
44. Web site: Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture: exhibition opening. 12 July 2012. National Museum Australia. 10 October 2013.
45. Web site: Our School. January 2003 . Gowrie Primary School. https://web.archive.org/web/20130409222524/http://www.gowrieps.act.edu.au/our_school. 9 April 2013.
46. Web site: LANDCARE TOUR DE CREEK : GINNINDERRA CREEK. https://web.archive.org/web/20120209131721/http://www.pedalpower.org.au/services/rides_library/act/ride75.asp. 9 February 2012.
47. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Walga Place.
48. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Warabin Crescent.
49. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Warrumbul Street.
50. Web site: Choreographic Fellowship options. https://web.archive.org/web/20050615085352/http://thechoreographiccentre.org.au/fellowships/options.html. 15 June 2005.
51. Web site: ATSIC News. https://web.archive.org/web/20040510051406/http://atsic.gov.au/News_Room/ATSIC_News/Spring_2002/Successful_employment.asp. 10 May 2004. 2002.
52. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Wirria Circuit.
53. Book: Blue Plateau: A Landscape Memoir. 9780702245497. Tredinnick. Mark. 23 November 2015. University of Queensland Press .
54. Web site: Yass Valley Management Plan. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002131414/http://yassvalley.local-e.nsw.gov.au/files/3297/File/ManagementPlanYVC2005PartA.pdf. 2 October 2011. 2005.
55. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Yerra Court.
56. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Yerrabi Pond.
57. Web site: ACT Government. 22 May 2013. 10 October 2013. Yumba Avenue.