Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this blog post contains images or names of Aboriginal people who have passed; this is not meant to cause distress or offence but raise awareness of our shared history and the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages across Queensland.
Welcome to Week Seventeen of the A-Z of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages!
This week's language of the week is Yukulta, one of the languages of the Gulf region. Yukulta, also referred to as Ganggalida, is also spelt as Yokulta, Jugulda, Jogula, Jokala, etc. Traditionally it was spoken on the coastal region opposite the Wellesley Islands taking in the localities of Westmoreland and Massacre Inlet extending east towards Burketown. Following removals, contemporary speakers and knowledge holders now live at Doomadgee Community Council and Mornington Island.
Austlang indicates that languages from the North Wellesley Islands and adjoining mainland include Yukulta, Kayardild, Lardil and Yangkaal which O'Grady et al (1966) classify in the 'Tangkic' group (tangka means 'person' in all four languages).
Wellesley Islands showing the four language groups in the coastal region.
Austlang also identifies only a handful of fluent speakers are known in the region; community revival efforts include teaching of Ganggalida at Doomadgee State School and the compilation of a Ganggalida to English community dictionary which features a CD with audio content. Community efforts are also supported through the North Queensland Regional Aboriginal Corporation Language Centre. Further linguistic work in the region has been undertaken by Evans, Nancarrow and Mushan; several publications are held within the State Library collections, while additional material including sound recordings are held at AIATSIS.
Join State Library for next week's Language of the Week; we are back to the start of the alphabet - Agwamin from Far North Queensland!
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
Spoken: Celebrating Queensland languages exhibition
Jarjum Stories exhibition
Old Words, New Ways upcoming exhibition
Minya Birran: What next for Indigenous Languages?
Images
Cover image: Two young boys at the rodeo, Doomadgee, Queensland, ca. 2008-2011. Image number: 30818-0001-0013
Map of Wellesley Islands - from Memmott, P., Robins, R. and Stock, E. (2008) "What exactly is a fish trap? Methodological issues for the study of aboriginal intertidal rock wall fish traps, Wellesley Islands region, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia." [Accessed from UQ eSpace]
References and Further Reading
State Library collections have some material relating to Yukulta / Ganggalida and neighbouring languages; however, most of these items are part of larger, general linguistic or historical references on the Gulf.
Evans, N. (1995) A grammar of Kayardild : with historical-comparative notes on Tangkic. J 499.15 EVA
Evans, N. (ed.) (2003) The non-Pama-Nyungan languages of northern Australia. J 499.15 NON
Holmer, N. 1988. "Gangulida" in Notes on some Queensland languages. J 499.15 HOL
Keen, S. 1983. "Yukulta" In Handbook of Australian languages, Dixon & Blake (eds). Vol 3. G 499.15 1979
Mushin, I. (2012) A Grammar of (Western) Garrwa. J 499.15 MUS
Nancarrow, C. (2014) Gangalidda to English dictionary. Compiled by Cassy Nancarrow. J 499.15 GAN
Nekes, H., Wurms, E. and McGregor, W. (2006) Australian Languages. J 499.15 NEK
Roth, W. E. (1898-1903) “Reports to the Commissioner of Police and others, on Queensland aboriginal peoples 1898-1903.” FILM 0714
Tindale, N. B. (1962) Geographical knowledge of the Kaiadilt people of Bentinck Island. P 994.0049915 tin
Tindale, N. B. (1974) Aboriginal tribes of Australia: their terrain, environmental controls, distribution, limits and proper names. Q 994.0049915 tin
Websites
AIATSIS - Australian Insitute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
Austlang: Australian Languages Database
North Queensland Regional Aboriginal Corporation Language Centre.
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