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

By Administrator | 6 August 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 32.

State Library's 'word of the week' for Week Thirty-Two is koolkan , from the Wik Mungkan language of Western Cape, notably the Aurukun region. It is the traditional name for the present-day Aurukun community and refers to the large lagoon which was the main water source when the community was established in 1904.

IKC Flexi-School Students on Koolkan Lagoon. Personal Photo: N Waterman.

This week's word coincides with Aurukun Day on 6 August and commemorates the establishment of the Archer River Mission Settlement by the Presbyterian Church.

Aurukun Mission House, 1913. JOL Negative No. 107804.

Wik-Mungkan is sometimes used as an umbrella term for the range of Wik languages and dialects in the region - these include: Wik-Me'anh; Wik-Keyangan; Wik-Iinychany; Wik-Iiyanh; Wik-Ngatharr; Wik-Ngathan; Wik-Iiyanh; and Wik-Ep.

State Library of Queensland invites you to celebrate the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages as we raise awareness of the rich diversity of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

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

Week Thirty-Two 6-12 August 2019.

#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. Opens 19 October 2019.

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. Opens 21 November 2019.

UN IY2019 Links

UN International Year of Indigenous Languages webpages

UN International Year of Indigenous Languages Resources

References

The word of the week was suggested by Noel Waterman, IKC Coordinator, Aurukun and is also sourced from the following historical item in the State Library collections.

Source:
Oates, W. (1964) Gugu-yalanji and Wik-munkan language studies. Q 499.15 guy 

Further Reading

The State Library of Queensland holds a number of collection items relating to Wik Mungkan and neighbouring languages, including the following:

27458 Aurukun Mission Records 1960-1974

Kilham, C., Adams, J., Bell, J. and Namponan, G. (1986) Dictionary and source book of the Wik-Mungkan language. G 499.15 1986

Korkaktain, V. (2008) Minh Nga'an Wichan = Catching fish told & illustrated by Venita Korkaktain. JUV A823.4 KOR

Oates, W. (1964) Gugu-yalanji and Wik-munkan language studies. Q 499.15 guy 

Pootchemunka, M, Wolmby, M. and Kowearpta, A. (2007) Moon story. Told by Minoota Pootchemunka, Mary Wolmby & Alice Kowearpta ; translated from Wik-Mungkan by Pat Pootchemunka & Koppa Yunkaporta ; illustrated by Jack Bell. JUV 899.153 POO

Sayers, B. and Kilham, C. (1969) Wik-Munkan primer. P 499.15 SAY

Sutton, P. (ed) (1974) Languages of Cape York: papers presented to the Linguistic Symposium, Part B, held in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Biennial General Meeting, May,1974.  G 499.15 1976

Sutton, P. (1995) Wik-Ngathan dictionaryQ 499.15 SUT

Thanakupi, G. F. (2007) Thanakupi’s guide to language and culture: a Thaynakwith Dictionary. Q 305.899 THA

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

Yunkaporta, S. (2009) Boat-ang mo'pul (in Wik Mungkan) = Two in a boat (in English). Told and illustrated by Steve Yunkaporta. JUV A823.4 YUN

Websites

Aurukun Shire Council

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