Kurrama language facts for kids

Kurrama is an Aboriginal language from Australia. It is spoken by the Kurrama people. Even though it shares many words and grammar rules with the Yindjibarndi language, the people who speak Kurrama think of it as its own unique language.

About the Kurrama Language

Kurrama is part of a larger group of languages called Ngayarda languages. These are all part of an even bigger language family known as Pama–Nyungan. This family includes many Aboriginal languages across Australia.

Different Names for Kurrama

Over time, the name of this language has been written in different ways. Some of these include Kurama, Gurrama, and Gurama. Today, the Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre always uses the spelling "Kurrama" in their books and papers. This center works to keep Aboriginal languages alive.

Where Kurrama is Spoken

The Kurrama language comes from the Pilbara region in Western Australia. It is mainly spoken around the Fortescue valley. This area is east of a place called Millstream. It also stretches south from the Fortescue River to Rocklea Station.

Who Speaks Kurrama

The Kurrama people are an Indigenous Australian group. Their traditional lands are in the higher parts of the Hamersley Ranges. These lands have been important to them for a very long time.

Studying the Language

Many linguists (people who study languages) have worked on understanding Kurrama. However, there isn't a full description of its grammar yet. The Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre is working to document (record and study) many languages from the Pilbara region, including Kurrama. This helps to preserve these important languages for the future.