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2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages: Word of the Week - Week Forty-Eight.

By Administrator | 26 November 2019

As part of State Library's commitment to the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, we will be 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 48.

This week's word is nhani from the Garaynbal language of Central Queensland. It means 'land, earth, country' and affirms the connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to land, sea and sky.

Biri dialects, Terrill (1998)

Garaynbal, also known as Garingbal, Karingbal, Karranbal, etc. is considered a part of the Biri chain of languages extending from Central Queensland towards Townsville. There are shared words with neighbouring languages of Yambina, Yangga and Gangulu.

157 Head of Comet River, Curr (887)

Some historical wordlists such as the above from "Head of the Comet River" exist for Garaynbal; however, linguistic work by Tindale then Breen and Terrill have created much of the language content for Garaynbal.

Join the conversation as we post a new word for each week!

Week Forty-Eight 26 November-2 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: Terrill, A. (1998) Biri. J 499.15 TER

Further Reading

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

Breen, G. (2009) “The Biri dialects and their neighbours”. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, V133, No.2. SER 506.942

Curr, E. M. (1887) The Australian Race: its origins, languages, customs, place of landing in Australia and the routes by which it spread itself over that continent. RBF 572.994 cur

Roth, W. E. (1898-1903) "Reports to the Commissioner of Police and others, on Queensland aboriginal peoples 1898-1903." FILM 0714

Terrill, A. (1998) Biri. J 499.15 TER

Tindale, N. B. (1974) Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits and Proper NamesQ 994.0049915 tin

Weblinks
Central Queensland Language Centre

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