Gulidjan language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gulidjan |
|
|---|---|
| Kolakngat | |
| Region | Victoria |
| Ethnicity | Gulidjan, ?Gadubanud |
| Extinct | after 1839 |
| Language family |
Pama–Nyungan
|
| AIATSIS | S30 |
Gulidjan (also called Coligan, Kolijon, or Kolitjon) was an Aboriginal Australian language. It was spoken by the Gulidjan people in the state of Victoria, Australia. Another name for it was Kolakngat (or Kolacgnat, Colac).
Sadly, Gulidjan is now an extinct language. This means it is no longer spoken by anyone. We have very little information about it today. Experts think it might have been a "mixed language." This means it had parts from other languages spoken nearby.
Contents
Understanding the Gulidjan Language
When We First Knew About Gulidjan
The first time anyone wrote about the Gulidjan language was in 1839. Over time, much of the language, including many words, has been lost. However, there is still enough information to show that it was a unique language.
What We Know About Its Words
About 100 words from the Gulidjan language have survived. Language experts have studied these words. They believe Gulidjan might have been a mixed language or a creole language. This means it shared features with the languages of its neighbors.
Different Names for Gulidjan
The earliest records called the language Gulidjan. Later, a person named James Dawson preferred the name Kolakgnat. This name means 'belonging to sand'.
Why Gulidjan Is Extinct
No one has been recorded speaking Gulidjan since 1975. Because of this, it is now considered an extinct language. It is a sad loss for the world's languages.
