Gubbi Gubbi language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kabi |
|
|---|---|
| Kabi Kabi | |
| Region | Queensland |
| Ethnicity | Kabi Kabi (Kabi), Butchulla (incl. Ngulungbara) |
| Native speakers | 24 of the Batjala dialect (2016 census) |
| Language family |
Pama–Nyungan
|
| Dialects |
Kabi Kabi (Dippil)
Badjala (Batjala, Batyala, Butchulla)
|
| AIATSIS | E29 Gubbi Gubbi, E30 |
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Kabi Kabi, also known as Gabi-Gabi or Gubbi Gubbi, is an Indigenous Australian language. It was once spoken by the Kabi Kabi people in South East Queensland. Sadly, the main Kabi Kabi dialect is no longer spoken.
However, a related dialect called Butchulla (also spelled Batjala, Batyala, or Badjala) is still known. The Butchulla people of Fraser Island speak this dialect. In 2016, 24 people still knew the Butchulla dialect.
What Does Kabi Kabi Mean?
The word "Kabi" (pronounced 'kabi') means "no" in the Kabi Kabi language. This information comes from Norman Tindale, a famous researcher, in 1974.
A friendly greeting in Kabi Kabi/Gabi-Gabi is "Wunya ngulum." This phrase means "Welcome, everyone."
Is Kabi Kabi Still Spoken Today?
The main Kabi Kabi dialect is no longer actively used. This means it is considered an extinct language.
But there is good news for the Butchulla dialect. As of the 2016 Australian census, 24 people still knew and spoke the Batjala dialect. This dialect is spoken by the Butchulla people who live on Fraser Island.
See also
- In Spanish: Idioma gabi para niños
