Janday language facts for kids

Jandai is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language of the Quandamooka people who live around the Moreton Bay region of Queensland. Other names and spellings are Coobenpil; Djandai; Djendewal; Dsandai; Goenpul; Janday; Jendairwal; Jundai; Koenpel; Noogoon; Tchandi. Traditionally spoken by members of the Goenpul people, it has close affinities with Nunukul language (spoken by the Nunukul people) and Gowar language (spoken by the Ngugi people). Today now only few members still speak it.

Classification

The three tribes that comprise the Quandamooka people spoke dialects of a Durubalic language. The language that the Goenpul tribe of central and southern Stradbroke Island speaks is Jandai, and the Nunukul dialect of northern Stradbroke island was called Moondjan, the term for its distinctive word for "no".

Bowern (2011) lists five Durubalic languages:

• Jandai (Janday)
• Turrubal (Turubul) and Yagara (Jagara)
• Nunukul (Nunungal, Moonjan)
• Gowar (Guwar)

Dixon (2002) considers all but Guwar to be different dialects of the Yagara language.

Vocabulary

Some words from the Jandai language include:

• Maroomba bigi/maroomba biggee: good day
• Juwanbinl: bird
• Buneen: echidna
• Gagarr: fish
• Murri: kangaroo
• Dumbirrbi: koala
• Gabul: snake
• Bingil: grass
• Humpi: home/camp
• Djara: land
• Juhrram: rain
• Bigi: sun
• Dabbil: water
• Bargan: boomerang
• Goondool: canoe
• Jahlo: fire
• Marra: hand
• Jalwang: knife
• Tabbil: water
• Wanya: where?

See also

In Spanish: Idioma jandai para niños