Kune dialect facts for kids

Kune is a unique language spoken by the Bininj people, who are Aboriginal people living in Australia's Northern Territory. It's actually a special kind of language called a dialect, which means it's a specific version of a larger language called Bininj Kunwok.

About 257 people spoke Kune in 2021, mostly in a region called western Arnhem Land. This area is in the northern part of Australia.

What is the Kune Language?

Kune is an Australian Aboriginal language. This means it's one of the many languages spoken by the first people of Australia. It's a dialect of Bininj Kunwok, which is a bigger language family. Think of it like different accents or versions of English, but for a whole language!

Where is Kune Spoken?

The Bininj people, who speak Kune, live mainly in western Arnhem Land. This is a large area in the Northern Territory of Australia. Kune is especially spoken in the south-east part of where Bininj Kunwok is used.

Specific Locations

You can find Kune speakers in the Cadell River district. This area is south of a town called Maningrida. Some smaller communities, known as outstations, where Kune is spoken include Korlobidahdah, Buluhkaduru, and Bolkdjam.

How is Kune Different?

Kune is very similar to other types of Bininj Kunwok when it comes to grammar. Grammar is how we put words together to make sentences. However, Kune has many different words in its vocabulary. This means that while the rules for speaking might be similar, many of the actual words are unique to Kune.