Laragiya language facts for kids

The Laragiya language, also spelled Larrakia (named after the Larrakia people), is an Aboriginal language from northern Australia. It was once spoken by many people near the city of Darwin. Sadly, very few people speak Laragiya today. In 1983, only six people knew the language. By 2016, just 14 people said they could speak it. This makes Laragiya a language that is very close to disappearing.

The History of Laragiya

Originally, some thought Laragiya was a "language isolate." This means it was believed to be unrelated to any other language. However, a linguist named Mark Harvey suggests it might be part of a group called Darwin Region languages.

A linguist named Arthur Capell studied Laragiya many years ago. He wrote that by 1950, no children were learning the language. Most older speakers lived on the Delissaville Reserve (now Belyuen), across the harbor from Darwin. By 1968, only two speakers could be found.

In the past, the Larrakia tribe was quite large. Their land stretched to Coolalinga. It also touched the lands of tribes speaking languages like Woolna and Warrai. Sadly, these other languages are almost completely unrecorded.

Sounds of the Language

Every language has its own special sounds. Laragiya, like other languages, has different consonant and vowel sounds. These sounds are put together to make words.

Linguists study how these sounds change when words are put together. This is called "morphophonemics." It can make setting up a writing system tricky.

Words in Laragiya

Arthur Capell collected some basic words in Laragiya in 1940. This helps us understand some of the language. Here are a few examples: