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Gurindji

Gurindji is a Pama-Nyungan language spoken in Australia. Glottolog rates it shifting.

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Gurindji · 17.0°S 130.4°E

Gurindji is a Pama–Nyungan language spoken by the Gurindji and Ngarinyman people in the Northern Territory, Australia. The language of the Gurindji is highly endangered, with about 592 speakers remaining and only 175 of those speakers fully understanding the language. There are in addition about 60 speakers of Ngarinyman dialect. Gurindji Kriol is a mixed language that derives from the Gurindji language.

Patrick McConvell writes: "Traditional Gurindji today is only generally spoken in private contexts between older people, although it is occasionally used in speeches and newly composed songs."

Patrick McConvell also states: "Gurindji has been taught intermittently for short periods as a subject in the local school over the last twenty-five years but mostly has had no role in the curriculum or in official community functions."

From Wikipedia · Gurindji language · CC BY-SA 4.0

Words in Gurindji

MeaningWordRomanization
personNumpit*
nameyini*
eyemila*
earlaNa*
nosejitji*
toothlira*
tonguejala5*
handwartarn*
bloodkuNulu*
bonekuyuwarn*
skinwajawur*
kneetiNari*
breastNapurlu*
livermalumpa*
waterngawa
firewarlu*
sungangirriny
starkiki*
stonewumara*
mountainNarlaka*
treekarnti*
leafjalyi*
nightkaputa*
dogguru
catminija
fishyawu*
lousewutu*
onejintaku*
twokujara*
INayu*

* in the simplified ASJP transcription

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Vocabulary

Vocabulary compares 40 basic words (ASJP); grammar compares 195 features (Grambank). Similar is not always related.

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Glottolog · guri1247 · Wikipedia (English) · Ethnologue · gue