Guugu Yimithirr language facts for kids

Guugu Yimithirr is an Aboriginal language from Far North Queensland, Australia. It is the traditional language of the Guugu Yimithirr people. This language belongs to the large Pama-Nyungan language family.

Most people who speak Guugu Yimithirr today live in a community called Hope Vale. This town is about 46 kilometers (28 miles) from Cooktown. As of 2020, only about half of the Guugu Yimithirr people still speak their language. Because of this, there are special programs to teach it to children. Guugu Yimithirr is also famous because it gave us the English word "kangaroo" (from the word gangurru).

The Name Guugu Yimithirr

The word guugu means 'speech' or 'language'. The word yimithirr (or yumuthirr) means 'having yimi'. Yimi is the word for 'this'. So, the name points to how the language uses the word yi(mi) in a special way.

Many other Aboriginal languages also use the word guugu in their names. They often name their language based on a unique word or feature. The name Guugu Yimithirr has many different spellings. Some of these include Gogo-Yimidjir, Gugu-Yimidhirr, and Guguyimidjir.

Where Guugu Yimithirr is Spoken

Location of the Guugu Yimithirr people

The Guugu Yimithirr people traditionally lived in a specific area. Their land stretched north to the Jeannie River. To the south, it reached the Annan River. To the west, their land bordered areas where people spoke languages like Guugu Warra or Lama-Lama. The modern town of Cooktown is located on what was once Guugu Yimithirr land.

Today, most Guugu Yimithirr speakers live in the community of Hopevale. This town was originally a mission station.

Different Ways of Speaking

Guugu Yimithirr used to have several different ways of speaking, called dialects. Most of the old dialect names are now forgotten. Today, people mostly talk about two main dialects. One is the coastal dialect, known as dhalundhirr, meaning 'with the sea'. The other is the inland dialect, called waguurrga, meaning 'of the outside'.

Long ago, missionaries used the coastal dialect to translate hymns and Bible stories. Because of this, some words in the coastal dialect now have religious meanings. There was also once a dialect called Ngegudi or Gugu Nyiguudyi.

History and the Word "Kangaroo"

Captain James Cook

In 1770, Guugu Yimithirr became the first Aboriginal language to be written down. This happened when Captain James Cook and his crew visited Australia. Their ship, the HM Bark Endeavour, needed repairs after hitting a reef. While they were there, they wrote down some Guugu Yimithirr words.

One of the words they recorded was kangooroo or kanguru. This word meant a large black or grey kangaroo. Over time, this Guugu Yimithirr word became the general English word for all kangaroos. Another word they wrote down was dhigul, which was the name for a quoll, a native Australian animal.

Joseph Banks, who was with Captain Cook, said the language sounded "totally different" from other languages they had heard. Sydney Parkinson, another person on Cook's journey, also created a helpful list of words from the language.

How Guugu Yimithirr is Spoken

Guugu Yimithirr has a special way of describing directions. Instead of saying "left" or "right," speakers often use pure geographic directions. This means they say "north," "south," "east," or "west." For example, they might say "the spoon is to the north of the plate." This unique feature has given its speakers an amazing sense of direction.

Keeping the Language Alive

As of June 2020, only about half of the 1,400 Guugu Yimithirr people speak the language. Most of the fluent speakers are grandparents. To help keep the language alive, elders in Hope Vale are making video tutorials. These videos teach Guugu Yimithirr and are shared on YouTube.

The local school, Hope Vale Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy, also teaches the language. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, schools were closed. This meant learning happened at home using the online videos. Because of this, many adults and younger siblings started learning the language alongside the schoolchildren. These efforts are helping to pass the language on to new generations.

Vocabulary

Here are some words from the Guugu Yimithirr language, written as Guugu Yimithirr authors spell them:

• Balingga: echidna
• Birri: river
• Bubu: land
• Buurraay: water
• Gangurru: kangaroo
• Gulaan: possum
• Guuju: fish
• Jijirr: bird
• Munhu: grass
• Nanggurr: home/camp
• Ngalan: sun
• Thaarba: snake
• Wantharra nyundu? How are you?

See also

In Spanish: Idioma guugu yimithirr para niños