Wiradjuri (/wəˈrædÊ'É™ri/; many other spellings, see Wiradjuri) is a Pamaâ€"Nyungan language of the Wiradhuric subgroup. It is the traditional language of the Wiradjuri people of Australia. A progressive revival is underway, with the language being taught in schools. Wiraiari and Jeithi may have been dialects.
Reclamation
The Wiradjuri language is taught in primary schools, secondary schools and at TAFE in the towns of Parkes and Forbes with the students being both indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
Dictionary
The process of reclaiming the language was greatly assisted by the publication in 2005 of A First Wiradjuri Dictionary by elder Stan Grant Senior and consultant Dr John Rudder. John Rudder described the dictionary: "The Wiradjuri Dictionary has three main sections in just over 400 B5 pages. The first two sections, English to Wiradjuri, and Wiradjuri to English, have about 5,000 entries each. The third sections lists Names of Things grouped in categories such as animals, birds, plants, climate, body parts, colours. In addition to those main sections the dictionary contains an introduction to accurate pronunciation, a basic grammar of the language and a sample range of sentence types." A revised edition, holding over 8,000 words, was published in 2010 and launched in Wagga Wagga, with the launch described by the member for Wagga Wagga to the New South Wales Parliament. A mobile app based on the book is also available for iOS, Android and a web based version.
Sample vocabulary
'Wagga Wagga'
The Aboriginal inhabitants of the Wagga Wagga region were the Wiradjuri people and the term "Wagga" and derivatives of that word in the Wiradjuri aboriginal language is thought to mean crow. To create the plural, the Wiradjuri repeat a word, thus 'Wagga Wagga' translates to 'the place of many crows'.
Animals
- Animals: Gidyira, Balugan
- Animals (male): Wambi
- Animals (Female): Gunal
- Baby (chicken or Pup): Mangga
- Bandicoot, Long Nosed: Gurawang, Guyand, Gurang
- Bat: Ngarradan
- Bats and Birds (General): Budyaan
- Bilby: Ngundawang, Bilbi, Balbu, Barru
- Brushtail Possum (Male): Gidyay
- Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby: Wirrang, Barrbay
- Bunyip: Waawii seema
- Butterfly: Budyabudya
- Cattle: Gurruganbalang
- Cockatiel: Guwariyan
- Common Wallaroo: Walaruu, Yulama
- Dingo: Yugay, Warragul, Dinggu, Dawarang, Garingali (female)
- Dog: Mirri
- Echidna: Wandayali, Wandhayirra, Ganyi, Ginaginbaany, Guwandiyala, Wambiyala
- Emu: Dinawan
- Frog: Gulaangga
- Horse: Yarraman
- Horse (stallion): Yindaay
- Kangaroo: Wambuwany
- Kangaroo (Red, Female): Bandhaa
- Koala: Burrandhang
- Kookaburra: Gugubarra
- Magpie: Garuu
- Owl: Ngugug
- Platypus: Biladurang
- Possum: Wilay
- Snake: Gadi
- Sugar Glider: Gindaany
- Swan: Dhundhu
- Wild Cat: Mabi, Babila, Mugiiny-mabi
- Wombat: Wambad
Other
Ngawa: Yes (Pronounced Å‹a-wa)
Wiray: No (Pronounced ɥi-ɾe)
Gunya: Home (Pronounced gu-ɲa)
Walang: Money/Pebbles (Pronounced wa-laŋ)
Family
- Mother: Gunhi
- Father: Babiin
- Son: Wurrumany
- Sister (older): Mingaan
- Sister (younger): Minhi
- Brother (older): Gaagang
- Brother (younger): Gagamin
- Girl: Migay
- Boy: Birrany
- Baby: Gudha
- Grandmother: Badhiin, Baaydyin
- Taliesha: Lieshy
Introductions
Widyu-ndhu yuwin ngulung? What’s your name?
Yuwin ngadhi James. My name is James.
Ngandhi nginha? Who’s this one?
Nginha gunhi. This is mother.
Greetings
Yamandhu marang? Are you well?
Ngawa baladhu marang. Yes I’m well.
Marang nganha. That’s good.
Numbers
- One: Ngumbaay
- Two: Bula
- Three: Bula Ngumbaay
- Four: Bula Bula
- Five: Marra
Verbs
- Dancing: Waganha
- Digging: Wangarra
- Laughing: Gindanha
- Swimming: Bambinya
Body parts
- Hand and is also the number five: Marra
- Backside: Bubul
Notes
References
- Günther, James (1892). "Grammar and Vocabulary of the Aboriginal dialect called Wirradhuri". In Fraser, John. An Australian Language. Sydney: Government printer. pp. 56â€"120 of appendix.Â
- Hale, Horatio (1846). "The languages of Australia". Ethnography and philology. Vol VI of Reports of the United States Exploring Expedition, under the command of Charles Wilkes. New York: Lea and Blanchard. pp. 457â€"531.Â
- Hosking, Dianne; McNicol, Sally (1993). Wiradjuri. Panther Publishing.Â
- Mathews, R. H. (Julâ€"Dec 1904). "The Wiradyuri and Other Languages of New South Wales". The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 34. 34: 284â€"305. doi:10.2307/2843103. JSTOR 2843103.Â
- McNicol, Sally; Hosking, Dianne (1994). "Wiradjuri". In Nick Thieberger, William McGregor. Macquarie Aboriginal Words. Sydney: Macquarie Library. pp. 79â€"99.Â
External links
- "Wiradjuri Materials". Restoration House: Publishers of Australian Aboriginal Material. Archived from the original on 2004-11-09. Retrieved 31 May 2015.Â
- A New Wiradjuri dictionary
- profiles of Grant and Rudder
- Peter Andren MP with material on the Wiradjuri
- "A first Wiradjuri dictionary vol 2". WIRADJURI LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. Retrieved 31 May 2015.Â
- More information on Learning Wiradjuri
- Learn Wiradjuri at TAFE