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2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages: Word of the Week - Week Fifty-Two.

By Administrator | 24 December 2019

As part of State Library's commitment to the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, we have been promoting a 'word of the week' from one of the 125+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and dialects from across Queensland.

State Library's IYIL2019 Word of the Week: Week 52.

State Library's final 'word of the week' for the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages is gayaay gaangangindaay , from the Gamilaraay language of South-West Queensland. It means 'Merry Christmas' and is a contemporary word derived from 'Happy birth of Jesus'.

Murri Claus.

Thank you for joining the conversation as we posted a new word for each week! State Library wishes you all the very best for Christmas and the Festive Season and hope that you have enjoyed the Word of the Week initiative!

Week Fifty-Two 24-31 December 2019.

#slqIYIL #IYIL2019 #IYIL #IY2019WordoftheWeek #SLQIndigenousLanguages

Desmond Crump

Indigenous Languages Coordinator, State Library of Queensland

State Library of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Webpages

State Library of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Map

Jarjum stories: A kuril dhagun showcase focusing on children’s books and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. 19 October 2019-10 May 2020.

Spoken: celebrating Queensland languages: A major exhibition exploring the survival and revival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages throughout Queensland. Join in the many talks and events to celebrate the rich and diverse languages spoken today. 21 November 2019 -19 April 2020.

UN IY2019 Links

UN International Year of Indigenous Languages webpages

UN International Year of Indigenous Languages Resources

References

The word of the week has been sourced from the following item in the State Library collections.

Source: Ash, A., Giacon, J. and Lissarrague, A. (2003) Gamilaraay, Yuwaalaraay, Yuwaalayaay Dictionary. J 499.1503 GAM

Further Reading

Other materials in the State Library collections relating to Gamilaraay and neighbouring languages, include the following:

Duncan, B. and White, H. (2014)  Speaking our way : a collection of Aboriginal languages of the Northern Tablelands of NSW J 499.15 SPE

Giacon, J. (1999) Yuwaalaraay/Gamilaraay Wordlist. P 499.1503 yuw

Giacon, J. and Sim, I. (1998) Yuwaalayaay, the language of the Narran River. P 499.15 yuw

Holmer, N. (1983) Linguistic Survey of South-Eastern QueenslandJ 499.15 HOL

Ridley, W. (1875) 2nd edn, Kamilaroi and other Australian Languages. Q 499.15 rid

Tindale, N. B. (1974) Aboriginal tribes of Australia: their terrain, environmental controls, distribution, limits and proper names. Q 994.0049915 tin

Wafer, J. and Lissarrague, A. (2008) A handbook of Aboriginal languages of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. J 499.15 WAF

Weblinks

Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay language website

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