Dhurga language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dhurga |
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|---|---|
| Region | New South Wales, Australia |
| Ethnicity | Dhurga (Yuin), Wandandian, ?Walbunja |
| Extinct | 1970se25 |
| Language family | |
| Dialects |
Tharumba
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| AIATSIS | S53, S54, S55 |
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The Dhurga language, sometimes called Thurga, is an Aboriginal language from New South Wales, Australia. It was spoken by the Yuin people, especially the Wandandian and Walbunja groups. For many years, there were no people who spoke Dhurga fluently. This means it was considered functionally extinct. However, since the 2010s, people have been working hard to bring the language back to life.
What is Dhurga?
The Dhurga language is a tonal language. This means that the meaning of a word can change depending on the pitch or tone of your voice when you say it. It was spoken in the area from Nowra and Jervis Bay south to Narooma. It might have even been spoken as far south as Wallaga Lake. Some people believe that Dharumba and Walbanga (or Walbjunja) were different ways of speaking Dhurga, like dialects.
Bringing the Language Back
No one had officially recorded a fluent speaker of Dhurga since before 1975. But many people are now working to revive this important language.
In 2015, local Yuin people teamed up with Tathra Public School in Tathra. They created a new app to help teach both Dhurga and the Thaua language. This app uses old audio recordings of elders and notes from early explorers. One of the main people involved, Graham Moore, also wrote a book about Aboriginal languages.
Teachers at Vincentia High School, led by Gary Worthy, have been researching Aboriginal languages since 2004. They also hold workshops for the community. Now, a special team at the school teaches the Dhurga language.
Bermagui Public School, a primary school in Bermagui, started teaching local Aboriginal languages in 2019. These include Dhurga and the Djiringanj language, along with their cultures.
See also
In Spanish: Idioma dhurga para niños
