Ngadjunmaya language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ngadjunmaya |
|
|---|---|
| Native to | Australia |
| Region | Goldfields-Esperance; Eyre’s Sand Patch, Goddard Creek to Port Malcolm, to Fraser Range, to Naretha and Point Culver, at Mount Andres, Russell Range, Balladonia, and Norseman |
| Ethnicity | Ngadjunmaia, ?Murunitja |
| Native speakers | "very few speakers" (2008); "probably recently extinct" (2007)e18 |
| Language family |
Pama–Nyungan
|
| AIATSIS | A3 |
Ngadjunmaya (pronounced NGAH-joon-MY-ah), also correctly known as Ngadjumaya, is an Aboriginal language from Western Australia. It belongs to a large group of languages called Pama-Nyungan. This language was traditionally spoken in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.
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About the Ngadjunmaya Language
Ngadjunmaya is a language that was spoken by the Ngadjunmaia people. It is part of the Pama-Nyungan language family, which is one of the largest groups of Aboriginal languages in Australia. Another language, called Murunitja, might have been a dialect of Ngadjunmaya or of the Mirning language. A dialect is a different way of speaking the same language.
Where Ngadjunmaya Was Spoken
The Ngadjunmaya language was traditionally spoken in a large area of Western Australia. This region is known as the Goldfields-Esperance area. The places where it was spoken include Eyre’s Sand Patch, Goddard Creek, Port Malcolm, Fraser Range, Naretha, and Point Culver. It was also heard at Mount Andres, Russell Range, Balladonia, and Norseman.
The Sounds of Ngadjunmaya
Just like English, Ngadjunmaya has its own unique sounds. These sounds are divided into vowels and consonants.
Vowel Sounds
Ngadjunmaya has three main vowel sounds, which can be short or long. Think of the 'a' sound in "cat" versus the 'a' sound in "car".
- The 'i' sound can sometimes sound like the 'e' in "bed" or the 'a' in "cat".
- The 'a' sound can sometimes sound like the 'o' in "dog" or "go".
- The 'u' sound can sometimes sound like the 'u' in "put".
Consonant Sounds
Ngadjunmaya has many different consonant sounds. Some of these sounds are made in different parts of your mouth than English sounds. For example, some sounds are made with the tongue touching the teeth, or further back in the mouth.
Is Ngadjunmaya Still Spoken?
Sadly, by 2008, there were "very few speakers" of Ngadjunmaya left. Experts believe the language is "probably recently extinct." This means that it is no longer actively spoken by people as their everyday language. When a language becomes extinct, it means a unique way of understanding the world is lost.
