Lower Murray languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lower Murray |
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|---|---|
| Ngarinyeric-Yithayithic | |
| Geographic distribution: |
Australia |
| Linguistic classification: | Pama–Nyungan
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| Subdivisions: |
Ngayawung (†)
Yuyu (†)
Keramin (†)
Yitha-Yitha moribund
|
 Lower Murray languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan)
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The Lower Murray languages are a group of languages that were spoken by Aboriginal people in southeastern Australia. These languages are part of the larger Pama–Nyungan language family, which covers most of the Australian continent.
Sadly, many of these languages are no longer spoken today. Some are considered extinct (meaning no one speaks them anymore), and one is moribund (meaning only a few very old people still speak it).
Contents
What Are the Lower Murray Languages?
This language group includes several distinct languages, each with its own unique history and speakers. They were spoken in areas around the lower part of the Murray River, which is where their name comes from.
Main Languages in the Group
Here are the languages that belong to the Lower Murray family:
- Ngarinyeri: This language was spoken by the Yaralde and Ngarrindjeri people. It is one of the most well-known languages from this group.
- Ngayawung: This language is now extinct.
- Yuyu: Also known as Ngintait or Ngarkat, this language is also extinct.
- Keramin: This language is also extinct.
- Yitha-Yitha: This language is considered moribund, meaning it is very close to becoming extinct. Efforts are sometimes made to help revive such languages.
How Languages Are Grouped
Scientists who study languages, called linguists, often group languages together based on how similar they are. This helps them understand how languages have changed over time and how different groups of people are connected.
For a long time, some experts thought these languages were too different to be grouped closely together. However, more recent studies have shown that they do share enough features to be considered a family. This helps us learn more about the history of Aboriginal languages in Australia.
See also
In Spanish: Lenguas del Bajo Murray para niños
