Jabirr Jabirr language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dyaberdyaber |
|
|---|---|
| Dyaberdyaber | |
| Region | Australia |
| Ethnicity | Djaberadjabera |
| Extinct | 1980s?aiatsis |
| Language family |
Nyulnyulan
|
| AIATSIS | K8 |
The Jabirr Jabirr language is an important Aboriginal language from Western Australia. It was once spoken by the Jabirr Jabirr people. They lived along the coast, south of a place called Beagle Bay.
You might see this language spelled in different ways. Older spellings include DjaberrDjaberr or Dyaberdyaber. Today, the most common spelling is Jabirr-Jabirr. Sometimes, people also call it Jabba Jabba.
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What is Jabirr Jabirr?
Jabirr Jabirr is a language that belongs to the Western Nyulnyulan group. This means it's part of a larger family of languages spoken in the same region. It's very similar to another language called Nyulnyul. In fact, they are so alike that people speaking one might understand the other!
The Jabirr Jabirr People
The Jabirr Jabirr people are the traditional owners of the land where this language was spoken. Their culture and history are deeply connected to their language. Languages like Jabirr Jabirr carry stories, knowledge, and traditions passed down through many generations.
Bringing the Language Back
Sadly, the Jabirr Jabirr language became very quiet around the 1980s. This means there were very few, if any, people still speaking it regularly. But there's good news! As of 2020, there is a special project to bring the language back to life. This is called a language revival project.
Why Language Revival is Important
A language revival project aims to help a language become strong again. This often involves teaching it to younger generations. It also means finding and documenting old recordings or writings of the language. The goal is to make sure the language isn't lost forever.
Jabirr Jabirr is one of 20 languages chosen for a special project in Australia. This project is called the Priority Languages Support Project. It is run by an organization called First Languages Australia. The project helps languages that are in danger of disappearing. They look for languages that don't have many records or recordings. They also try to find any living speakers who can share their knowledge. This work helps keep the rich language heritage of Australia alive.
