Nyulnyulan_languages
Nyulnyulan languages
Endangered language family of Australia
The Nyulnyulan languages are a small family of closely related Australian Aboriginal languages spoken in northern Western Australia. Most languages in this family are extinct, with only three extant languages, all of which are almost extinct.
Quick Facts Geographic distribution, Linguistic classification ...
| Nyulnyulan | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | along Fitzroy River, Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley region |
| Linguistic classification | One of the world's primary language families |
| Subdivisions |
|
| Glottolog | nyul1248 |
Nyulnyulan languages (purple), among other non-Pama-Nyungan languages (grey) | |
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The languages form two branches established on the basis of lexical and morphological innovation.[1]
- Nyulnyulan
- Western or Nyulnyulic:
- Nyulnyul †
- Bardi
- Jawi †
- Djabirr-Djabirr †
- Nimanburru †
- Eastern or Dyukun:
- Western or Nyulnyulic:
Capell (1940) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Nyulnyulan languages:[2]
More information gloss, Bard ...
| gloss | Bard | Njulnjul | Jauor | Njigina | Warrwa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| man | aːmba | waːmb | waːmba | waːmba | waːmba |
| woman | ɔranj | worinj | djando | djando | djando |
| head | nalm | nalm | maru | maru | ŋalma |
| eye | nem | nem | bani | nimelgar | nimelgar |
| nose | nimäl | nimäl | ? nimäl | ŋunidjina | ŋunidjina |
| mouth | niler | niler | djawa | niler | niler |
| tongue | neaŋal | neaŋal | djälän | djälän | djälän |
| stomach | noŋ | noŋ | ŋalu | nuŋu | noŋ |
| bone | gɛndj | gɛndj | gändji | gändji | gändji |
| blood | welgar | welgar | gunbulu | gunbulu | gunbulu |
| kangaroo | buru | bardjani, burug | bardjanan | bardjani | bardjani |
| opossum | läŋgur | läŋgur | goiɛ | läŋgur | guɳɖuman |
| emu | inini | winin | ganaŋandja | ganaŋandja | ganaŋandja |
| crow | waŋgede | waŋged | djawari | waŋgaɳa | waŋgide |
| fly | mogonj | mogonj | bɛːrambin | waɳmin | waɳmin |
| sun | alg | waːlg | waːlga | baɽa | waːlga |
| moon | gunjul | gunjul | giliban | gilinman, giridin | giliman, giridin |
| fire | djuŋgu | djuŋgu | djuŋgu | djuŋgu | djuŋgu |
| smoke | gungud | gungud | ŋuɽun | duwi | duwi |
| water | wol, uŋgur | wol, wuŋgur | wula | wela | wela |
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Some lexical isoglosses between Proto-Western Nyulnyulan and Proto-Eastern Nyulnyulan:[3]
More information gloss, Proto-Western Nyulnyulan ...
| gloss | Proto-Western Nyulnyulan | Proto-Eastern Nyulnyulan |
|---|---|---|
| rotten | *biini | *mandu |
| leaf | *bilibil | *wirrkiny |
| bush country | *bindan | *birra |
| kangaroo | *burruk | *barrjaniny |
| tree, stick | *bardangk | *baalu |
| arrive, come | *darr | *-bula |
| yes | *iyi | *ngawayi |
| later, soon | *karrm | *wanyji |
| egg | *lakurr | *kambiy |
| good | *layib | *maabu |
| nose | *-mal | *nguni |
| seek | *-mi | *-murungu |
| knowledgeable | *-mungk | *nila |
| small | *murrul | *wuba |
| mud | *ngijil | *jabula ~ *jakula |
| sister | *marrir | *ngunu |
| forehead | *-nkarra | *jirrbal |
| thigh | *-nmurr | *balngany |
| tail | *-warla | *makarra |
| woman | *wurany | *jarndu |
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Proto-Nyulnyulan
Quick Facts Proto-Nyulnyulan, Reconstruction of ...
| Proto-Nyulnyulan | |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction of | Nyulnyulan languages |
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The following reconstruction of Proto-Nyulnyulan is from Stokes and McGregor (2003):[3]
- Abbreviations
- WNN: Western Nyulnyulan
- ENN: Eastern Nyulnyulan
More information no., gloss ...
| no. | gloss | Proto-Nyulnyulan |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | and | *a |
| 2. | head | *-alma |
| 3. | child | *baaba |
| 4. | scorpion | *baarn |
| 5. | deaf (ENN forget) | *bab |
| 6. | brother (older) (B+) | *babala |
| 7. | paperbark coolamon | *bakarl |
| 8. | when | *bana |
| 9. | feather (ENN bird) | *bandal |
| 10. | carpet snake | *baninyburu |
| 11. | smell | *-banyju |
| 12. | poison for stunning fish | *banyjud |
| 13. | east | *banu |
| 14. | full up | *-bardika |
| 15. | cover over, extinguish | **-barnd |
| 16. | goanna | *barni |
| 17. | exchange, reflexive/reciprocal IV | *-barnj |
| 18. | think | *-barribarri |
| 19. | wallaby | *barrjaniny |
| 20. | cold season, winter | *barrkana |
| 21. | turkey, bustard | *barrkar |
| 22. | catfish | *barulu |
| 23. | behind | *baybirr |
| 24. | shade | *biika |
| 25. | twinkle, twitch | *bilbil |
| 26. | aggressive, wild, angry, fight | *bili |
| 27. | soul, spirit | *bilyurr |
| 28. | butterfly, moth | *bindabinda |
| 29. | long pearlshell pendant | *binyjabinyja |
| 30. | bark coolamon | *binyjin |
| 31. | spring | *birlarr |
| 32. | hit, kill | *-bu |
| 33. | flower | *bubu |
| 34. | nape of neck | *buda |
| 35. | dream, dreamtime | *bukarri |
| 36. | middle, in between, on the way | *bulngurru |
| 37. | tired, exhausted | *bulyji |
| 38. | bite | *-bundarr(a) |
| 39. | shit, excrement | *burda |
| 40. | dance | *burrb |
| 41. | string | *burrurr |
| 42. | camp, place, country | *buru |
| 43. | blow | *buu |
| 44. | ant species | *buya |
| 45. | hammer | *da |
| 46. | deaf | *dakidaki |
| 47. | chin, lower jaw | *dangku |
| 48. | turn | *dibirr |
| 49. | kidney | *dilba |
| 50. | fly | *dumbarra |
| 51. | drink | *-(i)bi |
| 52. | ask | *-jabala |
| 53. | see | *-jala |
| 54. | pelican | *jalinymarr |
| 55. | fall | *-jalku |
| 56. | magic power, healing potential | *jalngka |
| 57. | doctor (medicine man) | *jalngkangurru |
| 58. | cousin | *jalwal |
| 59. | mother’s father (MF) | *jam |
| 60. | axe | *jamiyunu |
| 61. | wife’s father (WF) | *jamunyarri |
| 62. | where | *jana |
| 63. | tread, step, trample | *-janbu |
| 64. | calf | *jangkala |
| 65. | break | *-jangkulu |
| 66. | split | *ja(r)l |
| 67. | harmonic generation | *jarndu |
| 68. | lift up, carry | *jarrbard |
| 69. | tooth | *jarringk |
| 70. | say, do | *-ji ~ *-di |
| 71. | downwards | *jidlarra |
| 72. | boomerang | *jiiba |
| 73. | down, below, inside | *jimbin |
| 74. | spear type | *jinal |
| 75. | shooting star | *jirirr |
| 76. | sing | *jirrmu |
| 77. | corpse | *jiwarri |
| 78. | tell | *-julnga |
| 79. | fire | *jungku |
| 80. | suck | *juny |
| 81. | run | *jurnk |
| 82. | downwards | *jurr |
| 83. | snake | *jurru |
| 84. | pour out | *jur(r)urr |
| 85. | carry | *-ka |
| 86. | bone | *kaanyji |
| 87. | father’s mother | *kabali |
| 88. | liver (ENN, except Jk guts) | *kabir |
| 89. | ashes (cold) | *kajurd |
| 90. | lose, drop | *-kalbarr |
| 91. | up, above | *kalbu |
| 92. | already, finished | *kaliya |
| 93. | father’s father (FF) | *kalurd |
| 94. | mother’s mother (MM) | *kamirda |
| 95. | murderer, ritual killer | *kanarbin |
| 96. | become fat/well nourished | *-kanb |
| 97. | laugh | *-ka(n)ma |
| 98. | spit, saliva | *kararr |
| 99. | enter, go in | *-kard |
| 100. | clapsticks | *karn- |
| 101. | kangaroo species, large | *karrabulu |
| 102. | shield | *karrbina |
| 103. | call out | *kawu |
| 104. | choke, strangle | *kiny |
| 105. | this, he, she, it | *kinya |
| 106. | brolga | *kudarrawany |
| 107. | two | *kujarra |
| 108. | west | *kularr |
| 109. | frill-necked lizard | *kulamana |
| 110. | sleep | *kulin |
| 111. | yellow | *kumbarri |
| 112. | blood | *kunbulu |
| 113. | carry on shoulder, shoulder | *kundi |
| 114. | brain, spinal marrow | *kunykuny |
| 115. | saltwater turtle | *kurlibil |
| 116. | dingo | *kurridi |
| 117. | sky | *kurrwal |
| 118. | blood | *kururr |
| 119. | pearlshell | *kuwan |
| 120. | ear | *-lababa |
| 121. | climb | *lakal |
| 122. | hear | *-lakarra |
| 123. | dry | *lalka |
| 124. | ear passage | *-lamarr |
| 125. | throat, neck | *langan |
| 126. | know, understand, recognise | *-langka |
| 127. | possum | *langkurr |
| 128. | steal, abduct | *lanyb |
| 129. | fat, grease | *layda |
| 130. | sour taste | *limba |
| 131. | sour taste | *linyju |
| 132. | saltwater crocodile | *linykurra |
| 133. | mouth | *-lirr |
| 134. | heart, emotion | *liyan |
| 135. | blue-tongue lizard | *lungkura |
| 136. | bum | *-lurru |
| 137. | put | *-ma |
| 138. | afternoon | *majal |
| 139. | path, road | *makirr |
| 140. | bag, coolamon | *malbulu |
| 141. | nose | *-mal(ul) |
| 142. | shadow, reflected image | *-mandarr |
| 143. | bustard, scrub turkey | *mangkayarra |
| 144. | throat | *-manya |
| 145. | arm, hand | *-marla |
| 146. | hungry | *marr- |
| 147. | bum | *-marra |
| 148. | shadow, reflection | *-marraj |
| 149. | head | *marru |
| 150. | vegetable food | *mayi |
| 151. | armpit | *-mbarrma |
| 152. | foot | *-mbala |
| 153. | male of species | *mida |
| 154. | shin, knee | *-midi |
| 155. | lie, untruth | *miila |
| 156. | be sitting down | *mijala |
| 157. | arise, get up, wake up | *-milka |
| 158. | stick implement | *milkin |
| 159. | ankle, joint | *mil(y)ku |
| 160. | grandparent/grandchild (diminutive) | *mimi |
| 161. | eye | *-miny |
| 162. | only | *minyjan |
| 163. | club, nulla nulla | *nawurla |
| 164. | devil, bad spirit | *ngaarri |
| 165. | woomera | *ngabaliny |
| 166. | spongy, hollow | *ngak |
| 167. | cry | *-ngalka |
| 168. | breast | *ngamarna |
| 169. | language, speech, speak | *nganka |
| 170. | interrogative particle | *nganyji |
| 171. | leave | *-ngarl |
| 172. | night? | *ngimbirr |
| 173. | belly | *-ngu |
| 174. | alone, by oneself | *ngudirr |
| 175. | throw | *-ngula |
| 176. | beard (WNN feelers of catfish) | *ngul(y)ku |
| 177. | ashes | *ngurlun |
| 178. | piss, urine | *ngurndu |
| 179. | night | *ngurra |
| 180. | be, sit | *-ni ~ *-nga |
| 181. | sandhill | *niimar(r) |
| 182. | flying fox | *nimanburru |
| 183. | true, really | *ningarra |
| 184. | tasty, sweet | *niyarra |
| 185. | corroboree, song | *nulu |
| 186. | hot, sweat | *nundurr |
| 187. | alive | *nunyji |
| 188. | fire, (hot) coals | *nurru |
| 189. | get, catch, pick up | *-nya |
| 190. | pierce, spear | *-ra |
| 191. | parent-in-law (male) (WF?, HF) | *rambarr |
| 192. | parent-in-law (female) (WM, HM) | *rangin |
| 193. | pubic covering for initiated man | *riiji |
| 194. | charcoal | *rirrka |
| 195. | eat | *-rli |
| 196. | exchange, return, in turn, barter | *rurrb |
| 197. | anus | *-uru |
| 198. | suddenly, unexpectedly | *waangka |
| 199. | frog type | *walak |
| 200. | sun | *walka |
| 201. | man | *wamba |
| 202. | coolamon type | *wandarl |
| 203. | wind | *wangal |
| 204. | young man | *wangalangu |
| 205. | spider, spiders web, net | *wangkarra |
| 206. | wattle type | *wangkaya |
| 207. | crow | *wangkidi |
| 208. | other | *warany |
| 209. | one | *waranyjarri |
| 210. | north | *wardiya |
| 211. | meat | *warli |
| 212. | rag, cloth | *wara |
| 213. | rib | *wiirri |
| 214. | emu | *winini |
| 215. | louse | *wirnka |
| 216. | taste, try | *-wirrik |
| 217. | give | *-wu |
| 218. | water | *wula |
| 219. | joke, fun | *wungul |
| 220. | crawl | *yadab |
| 221. | husband (H, HB) | *yaku |
| 222. | ahead, front, first | *yalirr |
| 223. | standing | *yalku |
| 224. | south (WNN south wind) | *yalmban |
| 225. | lick | *yaly |
| 226. | tongue | *-yangala |
| 227. | who, what | *yangki |
| 228. | woomera | *yarnkal |
| 229. | no, not | *yarri |
| 230. | father (F, FB) | *yibala |
| 231. | sickness | *yiika |
| 232. | dog | *yila |
| 233. | disharmonic generation | *yinar |
| 234. | wattle type (used for spears) | *yirrakulu |
| 235. | tree type (boomerang) | *yirrkili |
| 236. | descend, sink, go down | *yuwurr |
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Proto-Western Nyulnyulan
The following reconstruction of Proto-Western Nyulnyulan is from Stokes and McGregor (2003):[3]
More information no., gloss ...
| no. | gloss | Proto-Western Nyulnyulan |
|---|---|---|
| 237. | bad, sick, trouble | *alik |
| 238. | no, not | *arri |
| 239. | open | *baab |
| 240. | belt, girdle | *baali |
| 241. | blind | *bamburr |
| 242. | now, today, when | *banangkarr |
| 243. | groin | *bandakar(r) |
| 244. | praise | *-(ba)ngar |
| 245. | finish | *-bany |
| 246. | stick, tree | *bardangk |
| 247. | skin, bark (of tree) | *bardun |
| 248. | king brown snake | *barnkard |
| 249. | tie | *-barrkand |
| 250. | yesterday | *bayirdi |
| 251. | rotten | *biini |
| 252. | strong, firm, fearless | *biinmal |
| 253. | leaf | *bilibil |
| 254. | bush country | *bindan |
| 255. | bad luck | *bindikal |
| 256. | cold | *binyj |
| 257. | long | *-birndi |
| 258. | mother (M, MZ) | *birray |
| 259. | blunt | *buna |
| 260. | swell up | *-bungkum |
| 261. | kangaroo (generic) | *burruk |
| 262. | arrive, emerge, come | *darr |
| 263. | true | *darrgal |
| 264. | hard (not soft) | *diwa |
| 265. | wipe | *duk |
| 266. | three | *irrjuwarr |
| 267. | yes | *iyi |
| 268. | return | *jakurd |
| 269. | fear | *-jarik |
| 270. | go | *-jid |
| 271. | touch | *-jiding |
| 272. | die | *-jimb |
| 273. | arms akimbo | *jimbijimb |
| 274. | downwards | *jimbilad |
| 275. | stand up, come to a stand | *jirrjirr |
| 276. | wash | *-juluk |
| 277. | back | *-ka |
| 278. | wander about, roam | *-kal |
| 279. | approach, come up to | *-kalak |
| 280. | fire drill | *kalib |
| 281. | scratch | *-kand |
| 282. | vomit | *-kanyb |
| 283. | yam type | *karangkam |
| 284. | body | *-karda |
| 285. | bird | *karrambal |
| 286. | sharp | *karrji |
| 287. | later, soon | *karrm |
| 288. | scent, smell | *kiir |
| 289. | appearance, shape, form | *-kinbal |
| 290. | wet (of object) | *kubad |
| 291. | father | *kubul |
| 292. | squeeze | *kuly |
| 293. | wedge | *kumb |
| 294. | throat | *kurrbal |
| 295. | feather | *laaban |
| 296. | light (not heavy) | *labalab |
| 297. | egg | *lakurr |
| 298. | sit down | *-landa |
| 299. | good | *layib |
| 300. | black | *maanka |
| 301. | far | *maara |
| 302. | wife | *malirr |
| 303. | many | *-mana |
| 304. | leave | *-mankarda |
| 305. | wave (hand) | *-many |
| 306. | sister (Z) | *marrir |
| 307. | goanna | *mayala |
| 308. | search, look for | *-mi |
| 309. | native rat | *mijaw |
| 310. | sing | *-mil |
| 311. | tired | *milamb |
| 312. | choke (on something) | *-mingka |
| 313. | warm, hot (of weather) | *mula |
| 314. | head hair | *mukarn |
| 315. | knowledge, knowledgeable | *-mungku |
| 316. | root | *-mungkul |
| 317. | honey | *mungu |
| 318. | pour, spill out, flow | *-mur |
| 319. | smell | *-murrar |
| 320. | small | *murrulu |
| 321. | soil, make dirty, become dirty | *-ngali |
| 322. | defend, take sides with | *-ngaliny |
| 323. | deny, refuse | *-nga(n)ny |
| 324. | mud | *ngijil |
| 325. | neck (exterior) | *-ngkan |
| 326. | soft | *ngub |
| 327. | dirty | *ngunyb |
| 328. | knee | *ngurrungk |
| 329. | forehead | *-nkarra |
| 330. | thigh | *-nmurr |
| 331. | old man | *nyungurl |
| 332. | dry | *-ralk |
| 333. | warm oneself | *-ramb |
| 334. | heavy | *rambin |
| 335. | suck | *rung |
| 336. | cloud | *wadan |
| 337. | tail | *-wala |
| 338. | lie on back | *walirr |
| 339. | eagle | *warrikana |
| 340. | north | *wardi |
| 341. | rain | *wungur |
| 342. | woman | *wurany |
| 343. | fingernail | *wurrul |
| 344. | elbow | *yalangkun |
| 345. | mother-in-law of man (WM) | *yalirr |
| 346. | together | *yambun |
| 347. | inquest sticks | *yandal |
| 348. | near, close | *yangan |
| 349. | pull | *yarr |
| 350. | native mouse | *yubur(r)yubur(r) |
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Proto-Eastern Nyulnyulan
The following reconstruction of Proto-Eastern Nyulnyulan is from Stokes and McGregor (2003):[3]
More information no., gloss ...
| no. | gloss | Proto-Eastern Nyulnyulan |
|---|---|---|
| 351. | tree, stick | *baalu |
| 352. | hither, this way | *bakuna |
| 353. | thigh | *balngan(y)- |
| 354. | smell | *-banyju |
| 355. | thirsty | *barra |
| 356. | hit by throwing | *-barri |
| 357. | kangaroo | *barrjanin |
| 358. | catfish | *barulu |
| 359. | red | *bilyi |
| 360. | bush country | *birra |
| 361. | turn off | *birrb |
| 362. | arrive, come | *-bula |
| 363. | white | *dub |
| 364. | heart | *durlbu |
| 365. | walk, walkabout | *inyja |
| 366. | mud | *jabula ~ *jakula |
| 367. | camp | *jalbi |
| 368. | woman | *jarndu |
| 369. | hip | *jarrbal |
| 370. | forehead | *jirrbal |
| 371. | that | *ka- |
| 372. | eat | *kabu |
| 373. | egg | *kambiy |
| 374. | watch, stare at | *kanyjirr |
| 375. | moon | *kirridiny |
| 376. | body | *karrikin |
| 377. | tie | *-kula |
| 378. | vomit | *kurrbuk |
| 379. | throw | *laj |
| 380. | flesh, muscle | *-lany |
| 381. | good | *maabu |
| 382. | tail | *makarra |
| 383. | rotten, stink | *mandu |
| 384. | spear type | *mangul |
| 385. | many | *manyja |
| 386. | no, not | *marlu |
| 387. | hand | *-marrangka |
| 388. | search, look for | *-murungu |
| 389. | blue-tongue lizard | *ngalyak |
| 390. | yes | *ngawayi |
| 391. | nose | *nguni- |
| 392. | sister (Z) | *ngunu |
| 393. | afternoon | *ngurrangurra |
| 394. | smoke | *ngurun |
| 395. | knowledge, knowledgeable | *nila |
| 396. | eagle-hawk | *walakurru |
| 397. | stone | *wanangarri |
| 398. | cry | *wangkurr |
| 399. | later, soon | *wanyji |
| 400. | dig | *widij |
| 401. | belt | *windirri |
| 402. | big | *wirdu |
| 403. | leaf | *wirrkiny |
| 404. | small | *wuba |
| 405. | rub | *wurr |
Close
Wiktionary has a list of reconstructed forms at Appendix:Proto-Nyulnyulan reconstructions
- Bowern, Clair. 2004. Bardi Verb Morphology in Historical Perspective. PhD, Harvard University.
- Capell, Arthur. 1940. The Classification of Languages in North and North-West Australia. Oceania 10(3): 241-272, 404-433. doi:10.1002/j.1834-4461.1940.tb00292.x
- Stokes, Bronwyn and William McGregor. 2003. Classification and Subclassification of the Nyulnyulan Languages. In Nicholas Evans (ed.), The non-Pama-Nyungan languages of northern Australia: comparative studies of the continent's most linguistically complex region, 29-74. Canberra: Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University.
- Bowern, Claire. 2004. Bardi Verb Morphology in Historical Perspective PhD, Harvard University
- Bowern, Claire. 2010. Two Missing Pieces in a Nyulnyulan Jigsaw Puzzle. LSA, Baltimore.
- Stokes, B; McGregor, W. B. (2003). "Classification and subclassification of the Nyulnyulan languages". In N. Evans (ed.). The Non-Pama–Nyungan Languages of Northern Australia: Comparative Studies of the Continent's Most Linguistically Complex Region. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 29–74.