ISO 639-3 wrh | Ethnicity Wiradjuri people | |
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Native speakers 30 (2005) to 100 (2006 census) Language family Pama–NyunganWiradhuricWiradjuri Dialects Wirraayaraay (Wiraiari)? Jeithi | ||
Wiradjuri (/wəˈrædʒəri/; many other spellings, see Wiradjuri) is a Pama–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.
Contents
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.
Phonology
Consonants
Vowels
Vowel combinations; /aay/, /ay/, are pronounced /aɪ/ and /æĭ/ as followed.
'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
Other
Ngawa: Yes (Pronounced ŋa-wa)
Wiray: No (Pronounced ɥi-ɾe)
Gunya: Home (Pronounced gu-ɲa)
Walang: Money/Pebbles (Pronounced wa-laŋ)
Family
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.