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Mbara-Yanga language facts for kids

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Mbara-Yanga
Midjamba
Jangaa
Native to Australia
Region Queensland
Ethnicity Mbara, Yanga
Extinct 1960se25
Language family
Dialects
Mbara, Yanga
AIATSIS G21 Mbara, Y131

The Mbara and Yanga languages were two Aboriginal languages from Queensland, Australia. They were very similar, meaning people speaking one could usually understand the other. Sadly, both languages are now extinct, which means no one speaks them anymore. The last speakers passed away in the 1960s.

A system called Glottolog groups them together as Mbara-Yanga. It is important not to confuse the Yanga language with the Yangga language, which is a different language.

Who Spoke Mbara and Yanga?

The Mbara and Yanga languages were spoken by the Mbara and Yanga Aboriginal groups. These groups lived as neighbours in Queensland. Other nearby Aboriginal groups included the Gugu-Badhun, Yirandali, Wunumara, and Ngawun peoples.

Why Did These Languages Disappear?

The way of life for the Mbara and Yanga people changed a lot in the second half of the 1800s. This was due to the growth of cattle farming and the gold rushes in their traditional lands. These changes made it hard for the languages to continue being spoken.

Are There Other Similar Languages?

The AUSTLANG is an organization that studies Aboriginal languages. They suggest that the Yanga language might be the same as the Nyangga language and Ganggalida languages. These connections show how different Aboriginal languages can be related across Australia.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Idioma mbara-yanga para niños

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Mbara-Yanga language Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.