Bidjara, also spelt Bidyara or Pitjara, is an Australian Aboriginal language. In 1980, it was spoken by 20 elders in Queensland between the towns of Tambo and Augathella, or the Warrego and Langlo Rivers. There are many dialects of the language, including Gayiri and Gunggari. Some of them are being revitalised and are being taught in local schools in the region. The various dialects are not all confirmed or agreed by linguists.
Map of traditional lands of Aboriginal people around Rockhampton and Gladstone, Queensland
The Bidjara language included numerous dialects, of which Bidjara proper was the last to go extinct. One of these was Gunya (Kunja), spoken over 31,200 km2 (12,188 sq mi), from the Warrego River near Cunnamulla north to Augathella and Burenda Station; west to between Cooladdi and Cheepie; east to Morven and Angellala Creek; at Charle-ville. Fred McKellar was the last known speaker. Yagalingu is poorly attested but may have been a dialect of Bidjara.[10]
Language served as an important identity marker between the Gunggari and Bidjara peoples. Although academically speaking, differences between the two languages have been found to be minor, from an emic point of view such distinctions were meaningful and consequential. Lynette Nixon recounts that when her father used to converse with the Gadd brothers it was understood that, although communication was possible, they each spoke in their own tongue. Ann-Eckermann recounts,
I was present many times when Bert Mailman (Bidjera) and Aunty Mini Dodd and Aunty Annie Currie would sit outside their houses calling out to one another in language – it was explained to me that Bert spoke Bidjera from Augathella and that the two old ladies were speaking Gunggari – and that, although some of the words were mutually intelligible, Bert really couldn't understand what the ladies were saying – and it was driving him crazy because the women were making fun of him. (pers. comm.)
Australian Bidjara artist Christian Bumbarra Thompson employs his Bidjara language in his video work in an attempt to redistribute his language into the public realm. His work Gamu Mambu, which means "Blood Song", is a video work of a Dutch Baroque opera singer singing in Bidjara. It was included in the 17th Sydney Biennale, The Beauty of Distance: Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age.[13]
During NAIDOC Week in 2019, Bidjara man Owen Stanley shared his insights on the loss of language, and his sadness at not being fluent in his own language, with an audience at Uniting NSW. He said that his grandmother was one of the last 20 elders who died with the language, and attempts were being made to revive the language.[14]
Gunggariedit
As of 2021[update], there were only three native speakers of the Gunggari language left, including Elder of the Year Aunty Lynette Nixon, and a major language revival effort has been under way in Queensland schools since St Patrick's School in Mitchell started teaching it around 2013. Since then, Mitchell State School has also started teaching Gunggari. Aunty Lynette, along with the Gunggari Native Title Corporation (NTC), have been compiling the first Gunggari dictionary.[15] Gunggari NTC have also developed language workshops, for adults to learn their people's language, holding the first off-country in Toowoomba. As of November 2021[update], they were planning to extend the workshops to Brisbane, Woorabinda and Mitchell.[16]
^Breen (1973, 1981), cited in RMW Dixon (2002), Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development, p xxxiii. Some additional names were apparently not distinct dialects.
^ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Wadja". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
^Priest, Gail. "Issue 97 - video art: performance, politics, vision: video art in the 17th biennale of sydney". RealTime Arts. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
^"Voice, treaty, truth: Celebrating our connection to culture this NAIDOC Week". Uniting. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
^Hosier, Phoebe (26 May 2021). "An outback Queensland school leads the way to keep endangered Indigenous language alive". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
^Moodie, Anthea (27 November 2021). "Indigenous language workshops connecting Gunggari people to culture". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
^Breen, J. G. (1973). Bidyara and Gungabula Grammar and Vocabulary. Melbourne: Monash University.
^Dixon, Blake, Robert M. W., Barry J. (1981). Handbook of Australian Languages, Volume 2. p. 283.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Blake, Barry J. (1981). Australian Aboriginal languages: a general introduction. London: Angus & Robertson Publishers. ISBN0-207-14044-8.
, at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
Bidyara Swadesh List at the Internet Archive
Kuungkari, Bidjara, Inangai & Wangkangurru (Central West Region) community language journey digital story, at State Library of Queensland
May 07, 2024
bidjara, language, confused, with, bidjara, dialect, bulloo, river, ngura, language, with, badjiri, language, bidjara, also, spelt, bidyara, pitjara, australian, aboriginal, language, 1980, spoken, elders, queensland, between, towns, tambo, augathella, warrego. Not to be confused with the Bidjara dialect of the Bulloo River Ngura language or with the Badjiri language Bidjara also spelt Bidyara or Pitjara is an Australian Aboriginal language In 1980 it was spoken by 20 elders in Queensland between the towns of Tambo and Augathella or the Warrego and Langlo Rivers There are many dialects of the language including Gayiri and Gunggari Some of them are being revitalised and are being taught in local schools in the region The various dialects are not all confirmed or agreed by linguists BidyaraSouthern MaricNative toQueensland AustraliaRegionBetween Tambo and Augathella Warrego and Langlo RiversEthnicityBidjara Kongabula Maranganji Gunya Wadja Gayiri Wadjalang Wadjabangai Iningai Mandandanji Gunggari Koamu Kooma Ganulu Nguri YagalinguExtinctby 1987 1 Some people might know a few words 2008 2 Revivalrevival movements for Bidjara and GunggariLanguage familyPama Nyungan MaricBidyaraDialectsBidjara amp Gungabula Marrganj Margany Mardigan amp Gunja Gunya Wadjingu Wadjigu Wadja Gayiri Kairi Wadjalang Dharawala Wadjabangayi Yiningayi Yanjdjibara Kogai Mandandanyi Mandandanjdji Gunggari Kunggari Guwamu Kooma Ganulu Nguri 3 Yagalingu Language codesISO 639 3Variously a href https iso639 3 sil org code bym class extiw title iso639 3 bym bym a Bidyara a href https iso639 3 sil org code gyy class extiw title iso639 3 gyy gyy a Gunya a href https iso639 3 sil org code gyf class extiw title iso639 3 gyf gyf a Gungabula a href https iso639 3 sil org code zmc class extiw title iso639 3 zmc zmc a Margany a href https iso639 3 sil org code wdu class extiw title iso639 3 wdu wdu a Wadjigu a href https iso639 3 sil org code zmk class extiw title iso639 3 zmk zmk a Mandandanyi a href https iso639 3 sil org code gwu class extiw title iso639 3 gwu gwu a Guwamu a href https iso639 3 sil org code kgl class extiw title iso639 3 kgl kgl a Kunggari a href https iso639 3 sil org code wdy class extiw title iso639 3 wdy wdy a Wadjabangayi a href https iso639 3 sil org code xyb class extiw title iso639 3 xyb xyb a Yandjibara a href https iso639 3 sil org code ygi class extiw title iso639 3 ygi ygi a YiningayiGlottologsout2765AIATSIS 2 E37 Bidjara D38 Kogai D42 Margany E39 Wadjigu E44 Gayiri D45 Wadjalang Dharawala 4 Iningay 5 Yandjibara 6 Ganulu 7 Nguri 8 Yagalingu Wadjaninga 9 ELPBidjaraMandandanyiGunggariWadjabangayiYandjibaraYiningayGayiri Contents 1 Dialects 2 Language revival 2 1 Bidjara 2 2 Gunggari 3 Phonology 3 1 Vowels 3 2 Consonants 4 Vocabulary 5 References 6 External linksDialects edit nbsp Map of traditional lands of Aboriginal people around Rockhampton and Gladstone Queensland The Bidjara language included numerous dialects of which Bidjara proper was the last to go extinct One of these was Gunya Kunja spoken over 31 200 km2 12 188 sq mi from the Warrego River near Cunnamulla north to Augathella and Burenda Station west to between Cooladdi and Cheepie east to Morven and Angellala Creek at Charle ville Fred McKellar was the last known speaker Yagalingu is poorly attested but may have been a dialect of Bidjara 10 Natalie Kwok prepared a report on Gunggari for the National Native Title Tribunal in Australia citation needed In it she says Language served as an important identity marker between the Gunggari and Bidjara peoples Although academically speaking differences between the two languages have been found to be minor from an emic point of view such distinctions were meaningful and consequential Lynette Nixon recounts that when her father used to converse with the Gadd brothers it was understood that although communication was possible they each spoke in their own tongue Ann Eckermann recounts I was present many times when Bert Mailman Bidjera and Aunty Mini Dodd and Aunty Annie Currie would sit outside their houses calling out to one another in language it was explained to me that Bert spoke Bidjera from Augathella and that the two old ladies were speaking Gunggari and that although some of the words were mutually intelligible Bert really couldn t understand what the ladies were saying and it was driving him crazy because the women were making fun of him pers comm The Wadjigu also known as Wadja Wadya Wadjainngo Mandalgu and Wadjigun language 11 region includes the local government areas of the Aboriginal Shire of Woorabinda and Central Highlands Region including the Blackdown Tablelands the Comet River and the Expedition Range and the towns of Woorabinda Springsure and Rolleston 12 Language revival editFurther information Language revival Bidjara edit Australian Bidjara artist Christian Bumbarra Thompson employs his Bidjara language in his video work in an attempt to redistribute his language into the public realm His work Gamu Mambu which means Blood Song is a video work of a Dutch Baroque opera singer singing in Bidjara It was included in the 17th Sydney Biennale The Beauty of Distance Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age 13 During NAIDOC Week in 2019 Bidjara man Owen Stanley shared his insights on the loss of language and his sadness at not being fluent in his own language with an audience at Uniting NSW He said that his grandmother was one of the last 20 elders who died with the language and attempts were being made to revive the language 14 Gunggari edit As of 2021 update there were only three native speakers of the Gunggari language left including Elder of the Year Aunty Lynette Nixon and a major language revival effort has been under way in Queensland schools since St Patrick s School in Mitchell started teaching it around 2013 Since then Mitchell State School has also started teaching Gunggari Aunty Lynette along with the Gunggari Native Title Corporation NTC have been compiling the first Gunggari dictionary 15 Gunggari NTC have also developed language workshops for adults to learn their people s language holding the first off country in Toowoomba As of November 2021 update they were planning to extend the workshops to Brisbane Woorabinda and Mitchell 16 Phonology editVowels edit Front Central Back High i iː u uː Low a aː Consonants edit Consonants in the Bidyara dialect 17 Peripheral Laminal Apical Labial Velar Dental Palatal Alveolar Retroflex Plosive b ɡ d ɟ d ɖ Nasal m ŋ n ɲ n Lateral l Rhotic ɾ Approximant w j ɻ Consonants in the Margany and Gunya dialects 18 Peripheral Laminal Apical Labial Velar Dental Palatal Alveolar Retroflex Plosive voiceless p k t c t ʈ voiced b ɡ d ɟ d ɖ Nasal m ŋ n ɲ n ɳ Lateral ʎ l ɭ Rhotic r Approximant w j ɻVocabulary editBelow is a basic vocabulary list from Blake 1981 19 English Bidyara man mardi woman gambi mother yanga father yabu head ḏun gu eye ḏili nose guwu ear manga mouth ḏaa tongue ḏalany tooth yira hand marda breast ngamun stomach banbu urine ḏuḏard faeces guna thigh ḏara foot ḏina bone yarrun blood guma dog ngurra snake munda kangaroo bawurra possum ḏangurd fish guyu spider ḏun ga mosquito buḏany emu gulbari eaglehawk guḏala crow waragan sun ḏurdu moon gagarda stone banggu water gamu camp yamba fire burdi smoke ḏuga food maṉḏa meat yurdi stand ḏana sit binda see naga go wadya get mara hit kill guni I ngaya you yinda one wanggara two bularduReferences edit Bidyara at Ethnologue 18th ed 2015 subscription required Gunya at Ethnologue 18th ed 2015 subscription required Gungabula at Ethnologue 18th ed 2015 subscription required Margany at Ethnologue 18th ed 2015 subscription required Wadjigu at Ethnologue 18th ed 2015 subscription required Mandandanyi at Ethnologue 18th ed 2015 subscription required Additional references under Language codes in the information box a b E37 Bidjara at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies see the info box for additional links Breen 1973 1981 cited in RMW Dixon 2002 Australian Languages Their Nature and Development p xxxiii Some additional names were apparently not distinct dialects L39 Wadjabangai at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies L41 Iningay at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies L44 Yandjibara at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies E64 Ganulu at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies D46 Nguri at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies E43 Yagalingu at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies E43 Yagalingu at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies E39 Wadjiga at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies nbsp This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4 0 licensed text from Wadja Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map State Library of Queensland Retrieved 5 February 2020 Priest Gail Issue 97 video art performance politics vision video art in the 17th biennale of sydney RealTime Arts Retrieved 16 April 2020 Voice treaty truth Celebrating our connection to culture this NAIDOC Week Uniting 8 July 2019 Retrieved 16 April 2020 Hosier Phoebe 26 May 2021 An outback Queensland school leads the way to keep endangered Indigenous language alive ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 13 February 2022 Moodie Anthea 27 November 2021 Indigenous language workshops connecting Gunggari people to culture ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 13 February 2022 Breen J G 1973 Bidyara and Gungabula Grammar and Vocabulary Melbourne Monash University Dixon Blake Robert M W Barry J 1981 Handbook of Australian Languages Volume 2 p 283 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Blake Barry J 1981 Australian Aboriginal languages a general introduction London Angus amp Robertson Publishers ISBN 0 207 14044 8 External links editBibliography of Bidjara language and people resources at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Bibliography of Gayiri people and language resources at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Bidyara Swadesh List at the Internet Archive Kuungkari Bidjara Inangai amp Wangkangurru Central West Region community language journey digital story at State Library of Queensland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bidjara language amp oldid 1219975562, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
