Ngarigo language facts for kids

Ngarigo (also called Ngarigu) is an Indigenous Australian language. It was the traditional language of the Ngarigo people. They lived in the inland part of southeastern New South Wales.

Sadly, Ngarigo is now nearly extinct. This means very few, if any, people speak it today. It stopped being spoken by 2006.

Yaithmathang (Jaitmathang) was a different version of Ngarigo. It was also known as Gundungerre. We call these different versions "dialects."

Sounds of Ngarigo

Every language has its own special sounds. These sounds are how we make words. Ngarigo had its own unique set of sounds.

Vowel Sounds

Ngarigo had three main vowel sounds. These were similar to the 'a' in "father," the 'i' in "machine," and the 'u' in "flute."

Consonant Sounds

The language also had many different consonant sounds. These included sounds made with your lips, tongue, and the back of your throat. Some sounds were like 'b', 'm', 'n', and 'k'.

Who Spoke Ngarigo?

The Ngarigo language was spoken by the Ngarigo people. They are an Aboriginal group from Australia. Their traditional lands are in the southeastern part of New South Wales. This area includes parts of the ACT.

Other groups also spoke similar languages or dialects. These included the Ngambri and Walgalu people. The Jaitmatang people also spoke a dialect of Ngarigo.

Why Languages Become Extinct

When a language becomes extinct, it means no one speaks it anymore. This can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, people are forced to stop speaking their language. Other times, younger generations do not learn it.

Losing a language is a big loss for a culture. Languages carry stories, history, and traditions. They are a key part of a people's identity. Efforts are often made to record and revive languages. This helps keep the knowledge alive.

See also

In Spanish: Idioma ngarigo para niños